Chapter Text
Clary isn't the most organized person Alec knows but she isn't completely randomly strewing her things around. She's organized chaos and Alec has learned to live around it, making it all predictable for himself. And in the study, his nose is giving him more information than he needs to not step into a side-table with paints.
Even if he weren't blind, he wouldn't have been interested in art but despite that disinterest, he can tell so much about the paints used just by their smell alone. Clary had told him all about them even though he did not need to hear it and he remembers a lot of it if only because he likes staying informed. Besides, he knows better than to discourage someone from talking about their passion.
Today, her hand has a pencil in it and Alec can hear it moving over the paper. He doesn't know if she's sitting down or standing by the easel but he's assuming the desk because it's to his right and the easels usually stand more to the center of the study.
He can't tell if she hasn't noticed him yet – which is normal when she's busy with art – or if she noticed him but isn't saying anything yet because she doesn't want to lose the focus, and that is typical of her as well.
Alec walks farther in so she must hear him, and he waits. If he weren't blind, he could be nosy right now, looking around at the things she has around. There are probably some sheets of paper put up on the walls with sketches. He knows she keeps them displayed because she talked about it. Alec knows a lot about the study. It's one of "safe spaces" for him, where he knows the limits of his free movement. Clary never leaves her easels or chairs near the entrance or the center of the room, mindful of his visits.
He isn't here to model for her today. They're going shopping and as much as Alec doesn't enjoy the idea, this is about a gift he's going to help Clary choose for Jace for the anniversary of them meeting. In the past, Alec probably would have told her no because he simply didn't care, but he can't pretend not to care anymore.
"Alec! Hey. Right on time as always."
Alec still hasn't solved the mystery of Clary's unending energy and enthusiasm which sounds through her voice.
"Do you need to finish up something?"
"Nope. I need my coat and my things." She's already moving to the hangers where she dresses and then comes back to Alec.
"Let's go."
She locks the study with her key and they go back downstairs. The building is rented out by different people for different purposes. Clary is high up with her study, below here there are yoga classes two days a week, on the ground level there's a nail salon. The yoga room is also used for knitting classes once a week. One time, one of the attendees tried to lure him in with promises of warm scarves. Alec thought he probably could get the hang of it but it'd be riddled with mistakes he couldn't see. So no, Alec didn't let himself be lured to the knitting class.
When they're downstairs and walking around the corner from the staircase to the lobby, Alec walks into a man. A few seconds before the crash he already knows it's going to happen because he hears someone coming but physics are merciless and he can't stop himself in time, especially when the stranger is moving and also can't stop in time. It has nothing to do with his blindness, it's because the stranger came from around the corner and also wasn't expecting to run into anyone. They're all surprised, including Clary.
Alec kept his balance and he's pretty sure he didn't knock the stranger down either because there wasn't that much noise. And yes, soon after there's a hand on his forearm, giving Alec a careful but not hesitant pat.
It's not a secret that he's blind. He isn't using the cane when he walks with Clary but he's holding it and he can imagine the stranger's eyes catching it before he speaks.
"My apologies. It seems it was me who cut the corner." The stranger's voice is pleasant.
"It's fine, could have happened to anyone. Thank you for not cutting corners while carrying coffee."
"That would have been unfortunate. Well, I won't stop you any longer."
The stranger's steps are going away, towards the staircase and Alec and Clary move on.
"Well, that wasn't subtle," Clary remarks they pass through the lobby.
"What wasn't?"
"Him checking you out."
"He was?"
"Yeah."
Alec isn't sure what to say. It's not like he minds that. He knows people can look at him however much they want without him knowing. Sometimes he can almost feel it, someone's gaze on him, but he really doesn't care at this point. He's a tall, blind guy on the street, he's bound to be noticeable.
He doesn't care about being checked out, either, because nothing will ever come out of it. At least the stranger's cologne was quite pleasant.
So he shrugs and forgets about it.
⁂
"The guy who bumped into you the other day, you remember him?" Clary's saying while they're out before noon one day, getting coffee to go before heading to meet up with Izzy during her lunch break.
"I remember the event, yes."
"Well, turns out he was looking for me. He came by again not long ago because he wanted to commission me."
Alec holds his card out to pay while Clary collects the cups in their holder.
"Oh. That's good. But why didn't he stop you then?"
"Yeah, I know. He said he wasn't a hundred percent sure it was me because we were already mostly outside, right? And he said even though he assumed I could be me, he didn't want to stop me when I was going out with you."
"I guess that was considerate of him."
"And like I said back then, he was totally checking you out, not paying attention to me."
Alec rolls his eyes and doesn't comment further.
He doesn't mind. Just because he can't see doesn't mean he doesn't understand "checking out". He does it, too, but his way is through voice, cologne, the way people hold his hand for a greeting. He remembers how the stranger had touched his arm.
⁂
Apparently, the stranger has decided to become Clary's friend. Alec knows his name is Magnus by then but he doesn't call him that in his head.
Now, Clary herself seems pretty enthusiastic about it. Since she couldn't have started the work on the commission right away because of other projects, Magnus has said it was fine by him to wait and the waiting included talking about his request on some of the free afternoons Clary had.
Knowing that, Alec suggests one time that the guy will probably ask for a discount on her painting once it comes to paying more than the advance he'd already paid her, but Alec's suspicion is met with a sigh from Isabelle and then Clary explains all the ways he's actually been great help to some of her art-blocks and hesitations.
Alec rolls his eyes. Yes, he's already heard how interesting and creative, and fashionable the stranger is.
And maybe there's nothing wrong with him, no ulterior motives. Maybe it's simply that easy for him to increase his number of acquaintances wherever he goes. Alec can't relate.
The point remains that the stranger is apparently Clary's friend after some weeks have passed and that means he's being invited to their nights out. Alec wasn't told this until he walks into the club and makes his way to the lounge they always book ahead of time, and that is when he hears Magnus's voice among the others.
"Alexander," the man calls to him as if he's happy to see him, which Alec doesn't get because they've only met once.
There's Izzy, Clary, and Jace in the lounge but Alec doesn't hear Simon greet him so that means he's running late. It's likely because they're working on a project with Maia this month and they'll be coming in together, if Maia has any free time tonight at all.
There's some pause while those already present rearrange their sitting to accommodate Alec. It's always like this with them: whenever someone new comes in they have to redo the whole thing instead of choosing the most logically convenient seats on the sofa from the start. Alec usually refuses to move whenever he's there early and they still do this around him.
Today, he waits for Isabelle to tell him they're done and that he can sit but Magnus is the first to tell him where the free room on the seat is. Beside him, of course. He's to the left of the lounge so if Alec sits beside him, he'll be sitting at the end of the sofa, which is fine by him.
Magnus doesn't touch him while he sits, which Alec appreciates. Too many people rush to help him in all the wrong moments, when he really doesn't need to be helped out.
Alec's cane is collapsible so he folds it and places it behind him on the seat, where it'll be safe.
"I didn't order for you," Isabelle says. She usually does, or Jace does, when they know Alec will be arriving soon because he usually has the same thing.
"They added some new drinks to the menu so maybe you'll want one of those," she explains.
"Ok, do we have the new menu?"
"Yes," Magnus answers. "Shall I read it to you?"
"Please," Alec answers after a pause.
When he begins, Alec realizes that since Magnus is new here, he wouldn't know what changed in the menu and he reads all of it. Admittedly, the drinks menu isn't huge but they always had a good selection here.
Alec lets him. Magnus has a beautiful voice and when he reads, he has something to say about each option. Apparently he knows a lot about alcohol and the technical side of bartending so when he's done, he asks Alec what he usually had before. Alec isn't embarrassed about his light, rather sweet choices. No one (almost no one) ever pesters a blind man to get drunk. He can order himself Cosmopolitans without having to deal with looks from strangers because he can't see them anyway (not that he orders those often because of the glass' shape).
There is a pause after Alec gives his answer and he wonders if that's that. But no, a moment later, Magnus tells him what else he should try, listing three options.
"If it's made properly, it should be perfect for you," he adds at the end.
"All right," Alec says. "I'll try that. The first one you said."
"I'll get it for you," Isabelle says, already getting up. She goes to the bar with additional requests from Clary and Jace.
"How was your day, Alexander?" Magnus asks him.
Alec doesn't know why he uses his full name when surely Clary only refers to him as Alec. If they even spoke about him at all.
"Good. The usual."
"You're a consultant."
"Is there a question in there?"
"Encouragement. Tell me more about it."
"People rarely ask me to do that. Business is only interesting to those involved in it."
"Hmm. I admit I don't care to hear pure business-speak but I'm curious to know about your work. Besides, I am involved in the boring parts of owning my own brand."
Alec could say he isn't in the mood to talk about work in the club but… he doesn't feel like brushing Magnus off. He's asking politely and while Alec has no issues getting rid of people with rudeness, this isn't the case here. He wants Magnus to keep talking to him with that voice.
"I give advice on decisions before they're made. Decisions which can have very good or very bad consequences."
"He's being paid for telling people they have stupid ideas," Jace butts in. "He loves it."
Alec glares towards where Jace is sitting.
"He isn't wrong," Clary adds. Alec hates how those two always play as a team.
"You're stopping people from losing their money? Stupidly?" Magnus asks and Alec can hear the smile in his voice.
"Yes. Basically. I point out the holes, some more glaring than the others. I do offer some alternatives but that part isn't really my job."
"I'll keep that in mind for the future, although my field isn't what you're used to."
"Clary mentioned it. Interior design?"
"Yes. I do have a number of smaller interests throughout the year to distract me but I have a brand by now and that's the baby I take care of the most."
"And you moved to New York?"
"Oh, no. I lived here before. In fact, I own my apartment. I did spend six months away, though, mainly in London and some weeks in Thailand."
"I see. You travel a lot?"
"Quite. I enjoy it, even if I have to travel for work, not pleasure."
He pauses.
"I know it's a little more complicated for you but traveling just to breathe a different air has its own value."
Alec knows what Magnus means.
"I suppose," he says. "I do travel with my family, at least once a year."
At that point, Isabelle sets down his glass in front of him on the table.
"There you go. And more water for all of us." She places it on the table as well and sits down.
While Alec takes his glass and tries the first sip from it, Isabelle asks what they talked about while she was gone.
It's a nice evening. They usually are and Alec enjoys hanging out with his siblings and Clary, and Simon.
But with Magnus, it's just even better than usual. Time flies while they talk about all kinds of things. Magnus leads the conversation but Alec finds it extremely easy to fall in the flow of it, answering Magnus's questions and enjoying it. Alec doesn't like to be anyone's focus outside of professional settings but when Magnus does it, somehow Alec barely notices hours passed.
After they have to call it a night, what with their jobs and classes, Alec already wants a repeat of this and he doesn't even care if his siblings will pester him about this later.
He goes home to his empty apartment, where his pet Roomba is working away. He can hear it's in the kitchen so he says out loud: "I'm home," while he takes off his jacket and his shoes. It's not extremely late yet, only after 11 pm. He doesn't have to get up early so he goes to change into comfortable sweats and then joins the Roomba in the kitchen. He's a little hungry now. They always have snacks in the club but he ate too little through the day and he should make up for it. He sits on the barstool in the kitchen and has his phone read the news to him.
Thinking about the club distracts him from listening, however, so he closes the app, sets his alarm for the next day and when the robot rolls back into the kitchen on its rounds, Alec tells it all about Magnus.
⁂
Alec knows the study well because he's Clary's model. Sometimes. More often than he ever thought he'd be. Thing is, it isn't a hardship to do it and he passes the time with headphones in his ears. He either catches up on language lessons recordings or listens to podcasts to simply relax or to learn something new unrelated to work. Clary claims he's the best model she's had so far because he doesn't get distracted looking around the study and he's generally focused, in this case on what's in his earphones. Sometimes it isn't exactly comfortable to hold the pose she needs but it's still not a hardship.
Alec's back in Clary's space on one Wednesday, sitting on a chair, dressed in black clothes just as Clary had asked him to come wearing. Apparently she needs the black for some silhouette sketches and he's on his sixth pose when someone stands in the door, knocking their knuckles on the doorframe. The door is open, as it usually is, because on this floor it's basically only them and there's no one to bother them walking up and down the corridor. Alec pauses the music he had on to hear better.
"My apologies for interrupting," comes Magnus's voice, "but I was told I could drop by today?"
"Yeah!" Clary answers immediately. "Like I said, I have some new questions about the cards and I'd like to ask them in person here where I can sketch."
Alec stays where he is and now his pose is completely broken so he sits back and plays his music again. He turns the volume down a little bit just to hear Magnus even without making out the individual words.
Some ten minutes later, they're done discussing the design Clary had done so far for Magnus and Alec pauses the music again. He can hear Magnus walk over to him over the hardwood floor of the study.
"Hello, Alexander," he says and Alec is getting used to being called his full name. "I can't say I'm a fan of black being the main color but I admit you're making it work."
Then he adds: "Judging by the face you've just made, I take it you don't care for colors much."
"I don't care for people telling me my clothes are boring."
"By people you mean your lovely sister."
Alec shrugs.
"I care to look clean and professional, not fashionable. It would have been a waste of my time."
"Of course. Comfortable, as well? You wore cashmere the other night in the club."
Alec nods.
"It was gifted to me. But yes, I like it. Do we have to talk about fabric?"
Magnus chuckles. "No, of course not. I'll be happy to talk about anything you want. In fact, if you go to lunch with me, you can choose all the topics."
Alec tilts his head. "It's three pm."
"And twenty minutes past, yes. I thought if I said "dinner" you might panic."
"I- I'm not free, Clary asked me to model for her, as you can see-"
"I'm fine!" Clary pipes up cheerfully from across the room. "I already got a bunch of sketches and thank you for that."
God, she's just as bad as Isabelle is. Alec doesn't know if she's doing this because Izzy and Jace put her up to it or if she just discovered her calling as a matchmaker.
"Perfect, thank you, Biscuit." Magnus says and he sounds happier than Alec thinks he should be when it's just about a dinner with him.
Already on the move, Magnus gets Alec his coat from the hook and holds it up for him to put his arms into instead of just handing it to Alec.
Alec's face grows hot, to his mortification. He grumbles something like a 'thanks but you that's unnecessary' but he puts his arms in the armholes and Magnus fixes the collar for him.
Alec makes sure he has all his things and his cane, and follows Magnus down the stairs and outside, where Magnus hails a taxi for them.
Alec doesn't ask where they're going. Magnus had to say the street to the driver but Alec doesn't know what's located there. He hopes the food will be nice. It probably will, what with all things about Magnus being nice.
It's a little hard for him to process what exactly is happening. Magnus just asked him out to eat just on their own. He could have taken Clary, too, but he specifically didn't.
So Alec sits in the car trying not to be tense and he hates not knowing if Magnus is looking at him.
"I didn't ask if you have any food allergies," Magnus says after a moment and Alec shakes his head in answer.
"Never had any allergies."
"Good. Then I hope you'll like the place. It isn't anything out of the ordinary but I like the décor and the food, and I hope you'll like it as well. One of the chefs is an old friend of mine but I don't go there out of any obligation."
"Okay."
It occurs to Alec he doesn't even know how old Magnus is. He knows the general age, considering his voice, his job, his experience with the things he'd mentioned in their conversation at the club. And if he were too old for Alec, Clary wouldn't have been so annoying. He isn't going to ask but he wonders.
Magnus is telling him which places they're passing by as the car moves through the city. He remarks that it seems they got lucky with the traffic and that they'll be at their destination soon.
When they get out of the car, one or two snowflakes land on Alec's face. He doesn't expect much snow today, it's not cold enough for it to stay on the sidewalks without melting right away.
Magnus pays for the taxi and then touches Alec's arm.
"Let me show you the way. We're right in front of the restaurant."
Magnus tells him about the various topiaries at the front welcoming the guests and about the design of the building. Alec appreciates knowing what to expect.
It's nice to step into the warmed indoors, where a woman's voice welcomes them and offers to show them to the table.
Alec lets Magnus handle their coats, not only because he doesn't want to be a bother insisting on hanging it up himself, but also because he's enjoying it when Magnus does things like this.
Alec doesn't know how the restaurant looks beyond Magnus's description but he knows the chairs are comfortable and the table is made out of nice wood. The room smells nice, too, with no annoying fried oil.
When Magnus sits down, he offers to read the menu to him but Alec tells him to choose for them both if he's familiar with this place.
"I'll be happy to. I wanted to do this sooner," Magnus tells him, "but I wasn't in town."
"Where were you?"
"Los Angeles. I'm not a big fan of that place but it isn't too bad."
"I've been to LA once, for a job," Alec says.
"Where do you go for fun?"
"I have everything I need in New York. When I travel for holidays, it's with my family. I already mentioned that."
"I remember."
"We have a cabin at a lake, we go there to rest once a year. As for other fun, I go to the opera sometimes. I go to the gym, the pool. I'm not bored."
"I wasn't going to imply that. I only want to know you better."
"Why?"
"Because I have a feeling you're interesting and I want to know what you like."
Alec fiddles with his napkin on the table.
"Does that make you uncomfortable?" Magnus asks.
"No. No, I just- it's been a while since I've been on a date- not that I'm saying this is a date, you just wanted to go out to eat and-"
"Alexander. It's a date if you want it to be."
Alec doesn't know what's happening. He barely even knows Magnus and he's already at this point? A date? He knows that's what dates are for, to get to know someone, but still.
He doesn't know what it is that makes him go with it instead of backing out.
Just because Magnus is being the perfect gentleman when Alec is near, because he smells good and because his voice soothes something in Alec isn't… well, okay, those things might be enough.
From those few times they've met, Alec knows the very air in the room is different when Magnus is around. But in contrast to that, Alec struggles to understand what Magnus sees in him.
His face is probably red by now and he realizes he hasn't answered Magnus yet. Alec drops his hands to his lap so that his nervousness isn't so on display.
"Okay," he manages finally.
"Okay to the date?" Magnus asks, gently encouraging.
"Yes."
"Good, I'm glad."
Their drinks arrive and then the fresh bread as the starter. Alec's glad to have the bread pieces to fiddle with instead of the napkin. He doesn't know what Magnus is thinking. He's probably watching Alec closely.
He can hear the clink of Magnus's glass when he sets it back on the table.
"I think it's a crime you aren't used to being taken out."
Alec refrains from rolling his eyes.
"It was only to be expected."
"Hmm. If you aren't willing to put effort into getting what you want, do you deserve to have it? Just because you start dating a healthy person doesn't mean they'll be that way forever. In this world, you have to be aware of bad luck."
"Do you believe in good and bad luck?"
"That's a difficult topic. I do believe in karma, I suppose, but I also know bad things happen to good people. Do I believe in amulets against bad luck? No."
"Have you had many bad things happen to you?"
"My own share, yes, but I don't let them stop me for long. You don't, either."
"I guess I don't. But I was born like this. It's not like… I don't feel I lost something."
"I understand," Magnus says. And then: "All right, I didn't want this to be the theme for our first date. I want to know more about what you like, so I can plan for the next one."
He keeps doing that, Alec thinks. Magnus keeps on metaphorically sweeping him off his feet and Alec helpless to it.
"We can start with simple things- favorite food? Desert? I already know your drinks but what about wine?"
Alec smiles and shakes his head. He answers Magnus's questions about his preferences until their food is ready and served to them.
It is nice. Alec already appreciates the smells before he tries it. Magnus tells him what's on his plate and on which side. That is, he doesn't precisely tell him so that Alec has some surprise when he tries it. He can tell what kind of meat he got but there are some strange vegetables and a very good sauce on them.
Magnus is pleased when Alec tells him that he chose well.
They resume the conversation after they're done and are waiting for the dessert.
Afterward, Magnus calls for a cab for them and they finish their drinks, get dressed and go outside. The air is nice in the evening, more chilly now that the Sun is almost gone but not biting.
They get inside the car and Magnus suggests that Alec should give his address first.
"I'm… not going to invite you inside tonight," Alec says when they've arrived and he steps out of the taxi, with Magnus following.
"I wasn't going to ask. Let's leave that for the third date, shall we?" Magnus is smiling as he says it, Alec can tell.
"Thank you for taking me out today. I would like to do it again sometime."
"I'm very happy to hear it. If you give me your phone, I'll give you my number."
Alec takes his phone out from the inside pocket of his jacket and hands it to Magnus.
"Um. Don't name it anything funny or I won't be able to find it."
"Of course. Just Magnus. Magnus Bane makes it too… formal and I bet you don't have any men with the same first name on your list."
"I sure don't."
"There you go." Magnus hands him his phone back. His fingertips touch Alec's longer than needed and Alec wishes he was brave enough to hold his hand to feel more of that electric sensation being near this man gives him.
There's a pause of silence between them and Alec's too awkward to know how to end this smoothly.
"Have a good night, Alexander."
"You too."
And then Magnus is getting back in the car and he's going away from Alec, who goes back home to his loyal vacuum robot.
⁂
Alec has a lot of work in the following two weeks, which is a good thing. He likes being busy and he always has ways of making time for the people he cares for anyway. He gets to see Izzy and Jace but not the others, including Magnus.
Magnus does text him, however. Alec wonders if he'd found and memorized Alec's number when he had the chance while he put his own number in or if he knew it from Clary or even Izzy.
It doesn't matter. Alec regrets that his phone doesn't read the text in Magnus's voice.
Two weeks pass like this with very simple but regular contact between them. Magnus is busy with his business, too, and he texts Alec whenever he's traveling. He's complaining that he was supposed to stay in New York now but that things are coming up that force him to fly out to attend some matters personally. At this point, Alec gets sick of not hearing Magnus's voice and although he appreciates his voice app a lot, he's a little resentful about it not being enough when he communicates with him.
So he calls. Magnus picks up after a moment and his greeting words are surprised but pleased. It makes Alec pleased, too. He's lucky to have caught Magnus in a free moment, when he doesn't have to say he'll call Alec back.
He tells Alec all about his trip, what he's doing and what he's seen. And usually, Alec doesn't care for things like that, (he only cares when Izzy or Max, or even Jace does it but those three are an exception to everything), but he finds he cares to hear anything Magnus has to say.
Part of the appeal is that Magnus is the least boring man Alec has ever met. The other part is Alec's attraction to him. He doesn't fight it. After all, there's no excuse he can make for calling Magnus other than attraction.
In the end, Magnus promises to take him out again the moment he's back in New York.
With the call is finished and Alec's phone is discarded beside him on his bed, he lies back and lets himself imagine.
It's so… nice to be able to call someone else than his family and just talk. That's what boyfriends are for, right? Alec feels too old to be using the term boyfriend but he really, really wants Magnus to be his partner. Lying on his bed, he gets lost in the daydream like a teenager.
⁂
Magnus invites him out for dinner as promised. It's a late dinner, after Alec's work for the day is done. Magnus has had a long day as well but he'd said through the phone he really wanted to see Alec.
He wanted to pick him up from the office but Alec didn't want to be ferried around like he couldn't make his own way to places. They agreed to meet halfway, which actually means meeting at the stairs to the restaurant.
"Hello, Alexander," Magnus calls out to him from a distance and Alec loves that. He can't see Magnus striding up to him and he can't see if he's smiling at him, but now he heard him and knows he'll be near, soon.
"Hello," Alec answers softly when Magnus stops in front of him.
"Put your hand out, please," Magnus tells him and Alec obeys, though he isn't sure how he's supposed to hold his hand for whatever Magnus wants to do.
He's given a foil-wrapped flower. Not one flower, actually. It's a thin bouquet and when Alec turns it up to smell it, its sweetness surprises him.
"Thank you. Where did you get those in winter?"
Alec keeps holding the bouquet up to his nose, enjoying the smell. He isn't a huge fan of flowers but he's particularly enjoying these because of what they represent.
"That's my secret, darling," Magnus replies cheerfully, his choice of word making Alec's chest warm.
"Let's go inside before the flowers and your nose freeze," he adds.
Alec happily listens to everything Magnus has to say about his trip, even about the parts he's already heard on the phone. He's happy to hear that Magnus wants to stay put in the city at least until the first spring days.
Alec complains about one of his new clients.
He tells Magnus about the audiobooks he's finished and the concert his sister is planning to take him to the next week.
Alec doesn't tell him how the highlight of his evenings are their conversations, even if they're just texts.
After dinner, instead of taking a more comfortable way, they end up walking for a while, ignoring the cold. They're walking arm in arm, Alec's gloved fingers clutching the folds of Magnus's coat and it has nothing to do with his blindness but all to do with the fear there's a chance the man will disappear if Alec doesn't hold onto him. Like a dream, like a spell.
"It's Valentines next week," Magnus speaks after a while.
"Oh. Right, it is."
"Naturally, I want to celebrate the day with you. Question is, what are we going to do?"
Alec thinks about it. Magnus is asking because he clearly wants to do something else than eating dinners together. Alec isn't bored of those restaurant dates because they only had two of them but he doesn't say it. Truthfully, he doesn't have any ideas ready. The movies and the ice rink are the usual places for couples but he doesn't go to the cinemas and he doesn't want anything to do with skating. He also doesn't suggest other interesting things he could do because this day is supposed to be different, special. If Magnus gave him time, he could ask Isabelle for ideas.
"I was wondering if you'd like to see where I live," Magnus breaks the silence.
"Oh?"
"I could cook for us, put on music, light some candles. I'm sure I can figure out what else we could do instead of watching cheesy movies."
"And instead of sex," Alec blurts out. They stop walking.
"That is, I mean, I don't want you to be disappointed," Alec finishes on one breath. His fingers are squeezing Magnus's coat tighter but he isn't even aware he's doing that.
"No such thing as disappointment with you," Magnus says in that way of his that Alec loves but in this moment mistrusts, and hates himself for mistrusting it.
"We haven't even kissed yet," Magnus continues. "I'd never ask you to bed before that, that wouldn't be very gentlemanly."
"We can kiss when I come over," Alec says then, and it sounds less like a suggestion and more like a final decision.
Magnus gives a short laugh. "You know how to make a man look forward to the future, Alexander."
They resume their walk.
"That's the plan," Magnus says after a minute passes. "You come over, I cook, we spend the time in a fun way. You give me a kiss."
"Sounds perfect."
⁂
On Valentines' Day, Alec gets out of the car and stops on the sidewalk. Jace drove him here today, mostly because he was free and because he insisted someone should go with Alec that first time.
Magnus had said he'd come down to get Alec from the sidewalk but right now, Alec prefers to have Jace near to locate the entrance and whatever security the building has.
Jace whistles after he locks the car and stands beside Alec.
"If he really lives here, damn, it's nice."
"Expensive?"
"Yeah. Not like gaudy expensive but this building looks like people rent whole floors, not apartments."
It's not like it's a surprise, what with Magnus owning his business and having money-bringing hobbies. They never discussed money, really. They're both lucky to be well-off, they seem compatible as far as tastes are considered and neither of them ever wanted to discuss money. Alec's apartment is on the small side because he never felt the need to have many things and because he's saving money and space on superficial things a blind man won't have use for.
If Magnus's place is big, it'll take Alec time to get used to its layout. Not that he's even certain he'll get to come here a second time.
"Hmm. Magnus said it's penthouse one," Alec tells Jace.
"All right, let's get inside."
Jace is telling him what the place looks like. There's no doorman but the corridor they're in has stairs opposite of the entrance door and some lifts to the sides.
The stairs appear to be mostly for safety reasons and the lifts have a list of apartments. There aren't many of them, so Jace must have been mostly right about the floors.
What Alec himself knows, is that the corridor is cozy warm and it smells nice. It's clean and as if there's some air freshener around, and not a cheap one.
"PH1," Jace reads. "Sounds right? Apparently, you can either swipe a card or call."
"Okay. Let's call. If Magnus answers, you can go home."
"Maybe I should ride up with you to check if he doesn't have kidney-extracting lab ready?" Jace teases.
Alec rolls his eyes and doesn't comment.
There is indeed Magnus's voice coming from the little speaker soon after Jace pushed the button.
"Alexander?" he asks, not completely certain but surely not expecting any other people at this time.
"It's me," Alec answers.
"I told you I'd come to get you, darling."
"My brother drove me here, so you just have to let me get inside the lift."
"I see. Isn't your brother spending the day with Biscuit?"
"I am," Jace answers, "we're meeting in an hour so let Alec in so I can go. And hey, if he doesn't have a good time tonight, I'll know about it."
Alec smacks him with his cane but that stopped making any impression on Jace when they were teens.
The lift doors open and after Jace wishes him fun with a wink that Alec can't see, they go separate ways.
Alec's nervous. The lift is fast and he only has little time to panic. He's about to be in Magnus's home, no strangers around, and it's Valentine's Day and apparently Magnus is his boyfriend now.
Alec really, really doesn't want to ruin this today.
He doesn't have any clear ideas how he could ruin things, he's just afraid of it.
He's blind, he has little experience, he's shy because he's never been interested in casual sex, even if he'd "fooled around" a little in his university days.
With a very soft sound, the lift opens again and Alec steps out of it.
"Alexander," Magnus says and magically, that full name is a greeting and an endearment all in one.
"Hi."
"So your brother," Magnus says casually, "he came to see if I'm luring you to the back of a warehouse?"
Alec chuckles. "No. Iz already checked that on Street View. Jace wanted to see if the place looked like kidney-thieves live here."
"Ah, of course. Well then, now that he's gone and we can move on, let me lead you inside. Don't take your shoes off, unless you're tired of them. It's mostly wood here, carpets are only in some areas. I will take your coat, though. Now, I'm not done with the food so you're going to have to wait for the grand tour of my home. Come keep me company."
Magnus takes him by the wrist, so Alec follows. He's given a barstool to perch on while Magnus moves around the kitchen. It already smells lovely in there.
"Would you like to tell me more about Jace? I never asked because I didn't feel comfortable but… he isn't your biological family, is he?"
"Oh, no. He, um, isn't even my adopted brother," Alec admits. "We're just friends. Best friends, that is, but no family ties."
"That's interesting. You refer to him as your family."
"Yeah. So does Iz."
Before Alec can continue with an explanation, Magnus comes close to him.
"Taste this. I'm giving you a fork with pasta would around it. It's quite warm but shouldn't burn."
Alec takes it, tries it and approves.
Magnus hums, pleased, and goes back to his pots and pans. Well, Alec imagines he has pots and pans.
Unprompted, Alec continues the topic of Jace because it gives him something to focus on.
"I mentioned my school before," he begins.
He'd mentioned in his messages that he was homeschooled but he was also made to attend some classes in the same school his sister attended. He had excellent tutors for his serious education but his parents had wanted him to know how the real life worked. He never had been sheltered as a blind boy, except that he went to normal schools when Izzy did, not earlier than that as he should go according to his age.
"Our parents, well, they wanted us to be elite children so we went to elite schools. Jace was also there when we started. He deserved to be there. I know he annoys you, but he's so smart-"
Magnus interrupts him. "He doesn't annoy me. I don't make jokes about people who annoy me, darling. I tell them I don't like them."
"Oh."
"I like your family and friends. Not nearly as much as I like you, as I'm sure you realize, but I like them."
"Good. I'm glad. I'd have hated it if there was an issue."
"No issues at all, darling."
Magnus had complained about Jace to Alec in their texts. He'd met him a few times because he'd been in Clary's study when Magnus had come over to see the progress of the painting. And there was the club night.
"He was a foster care kid," Alec continues. "When we met, he'd just been luckily found by his extended but biological family, taken in and set on the same path myself and Iz were. Well-off kids with bright futures."
"But it wasn't what he was used to?" Magnus guesses.
"Yeah. It took a long time for him to adjust. I was the oldest but I was the blind kid who went to school with his sister. The odd one out. Jace was another odd one. We drifted together until we realized we liked each other. Izzy taught him how to look after me without being obnoxious. And I, well, I had my ways of looking after him when he got in trouble with the other kids or the teachers."
"Let me guess, it evolved into you being a sought-after consultant?"
Alec smiles. "I wish Jace listened as well as most of my clients do. Unfortunately, he didn't quite get it when I tried to tell him he was being an idiot. And back to your actual question, I'd figured out that saying 'my brother' worked heavens better than saying 'my friend'. I pulled 'my brother' card as often as it got me better results. It stuck."
"I'm envious, you know. I personally know people who had awful siblings but I always wished I wasn't a single child."
"Yeah. I can't imagine it any other way."
A comfortable silence falls between them until Magnus says "That's ready, I think."
There's more clinking and then there's a plate in front of Alec.
"We're eating seafood. Not the most original idea but the taste should make up for it. You already know it's with pasta. I added fresh chili but not too much."
"Okay."
"And I won't say anything else. You tell me if you like it."
They begin eating in silence, enjoying the food without distracting each other with the conversation.
Being alone in Magnus's space causes Alec to be a little more nervous than he usually is in public, in a restaurant. But still, being with Magnus puts Alec at ease in general, much more than being with other people does.
Alec doesn't make Magnus wait for praise for long, though, and from there, words begin flowing easily between them.
Magnus takes their plates away after they're done and replaces them with desserts. He'd offered Alec wine to go with the dinner but Alec told him to go ahead and have some by himself.
And then, Alec finally gets his tour of the apartment. There are many items in there. Armchairs, coffee tables, fancy stands with sculptures, large planters with plants with leaves wider than Alec's two hands put together.
At some point something brushes Alec's pants but Magnus isn't saying anything so Alec decides he made it up.
Magnus has a drawing room for his projects, both interior design and fashion. Alec touches the edges of the numerous folders and binders on the long bookshelf. There is a familiar aspect to this room – paper and pencils, and pens, just like they're part of Clary's world.
Magnus takes him to the balcony next, where he describes which parts of the city he can see and recognize from there.
Magnus tells him where's the bathroom, guest bedroom with another, en suite bathroom, Magnus's bedroom. The master bedroom is connected with the wardrobe so that and the living room are the majority of the flat.
"We can watch a movie, you know," Alec tells Magnus when they sit down on the couch. "It wouldn't be boring with you."
"Hmm. You're saying you'd enjoy my running commentary? I have to tell this to my friend. He told me he tires of my voice and to stop bothering him for at least a year."
Alec chuckles. "Sometimes I want to say the same to some people."
"We can leave movies for another time. Today, I wanted to try something else. Have you played cards? Any type of game?"
"Um, yes. A few times when I was a student? I guess cards just didn't happen to be popular with anyone around me."
"Alright, excellent. So I'm free to teach you from the start."
"I'm not playing strip poker with you," Alec quipped, making Magnus laugh.
"This is a gentleman's date, no stripping. I'll teach you one or two of my favorite games and not the mainstream stuff. We'll practice a little and play a proper game. If you win, I'll give you a kiss."
"What do you get for a win?"
"If I win, that'll mean I was a lousy teacher and we need to practice more until you win."
Alec smiles.
"Alright… I guess we have the whole night for this."
"Exactly right, darling."
Even though he didn't touch any wine, Alec is warm and cozy, curled up with his feet up on the couch. He's feeling floaty, but not like high. They're both sitting sideways on the couch with some space between them to put the currently unused cards. Alec's holding his set, thinking about the next move.
The cards Magnus bought feel very nice. Back when he'd played with his old classmates, they had the most affordable set since it wasn't meant for much use anyway. Obviously, Magnus didn't try to save money on this pack.
Focusing on remembering the rules, Alec knows he doesn't have to rush. Magnus is silent, the music he'd put on earlier is a pleasant background to Alec's thoughts.
The apartment wraps a warm aura around him. It's not just nearness to Magnus and his wonderful cologne, but any room Magnus is in is always charged, and it's doubly so for his home. Alec doesn't know how to describe it even to himself in his head, so he doesn't try. He just enjoys it.
He almost wins the first round and Magnus is pleased with that but he insists they try again. Before Magnus deals the cards again, he pushes a plate up to Alec's face.
"Are you trying to fatten me up?" Alec asks, his eyebrows raised.
"Maybe? Or maybe I just enjoy watching you have good things."
"Jace was right, you will sell my parts after I'm fat."
Magnus huffs. "Take the cookie, Alexander."
That plate must have been waiting on the coffee table the whole time because Magnus didn't leave the cough at any point in their game.
A little later, Magnus goes to get them both some tea.
"It's black tea but it's a little herbal, too. I like it."
"You found it on your travels?"
"That's right. Indonesia. I always bring back a good supply with me."
"Hmm." Alec sips carefully but it's the perfect temperature to drink slowly. "It's unusual. But good."
They drink their tea and clear some more of the cookies from the plate before returning to the game.
"By the way," Alec begins, "about the cards, are you into Tarot?"
"I know Tarot but what Biscuit is working on is going to be a gift to my dear friend, not for myself."
"Oh. That's nice of you," Alec says, knowing the cost of good custom art even if he's never seen it.
"My friend does readings for people for money but it isn't her main occupation. If you believe in those cards, you know that the deck itself matters. I wanted her to have a special one, with hopefully some good energy from it being a gift, and from your friend's love for art."
"And do you believe in that?"
"I guess I do."
Alec wins the third round and he sets his cards down, grinning.
"Good job, darling. Now you're a pro," Magnus praises him.
Excited, Alec can't stop smiling and it isn't about his newly acquired cards skills but about his reward.
The couch's pillows dip under Magnus's weight when he moves, closing the gap between the two of them. Alec wishes he could see him just to have something distracting him from the anticipation.
With his body closer now, Alec can once more smell the wonderful, woody scent of whatever it is Magnus is using on his clothes.
And then there are lips touching his lips, warm and dry, and Alec's learning the shape of them.
It's just that: touch. Magnus shifts even closer, his hand touches Alec's cheek. Alec's lips part slightly, he lets out the breath he was holding. Magnus doesn't push for more. He begins backing away but then he returns, pressing his lips to Alec's again and his thumb caresses Alec's cheek.
It remains chaste and Alec isn't disappointed only because he's still processing the knowledge that he just kissed someone he wants like he's never wanted anyone else before.
"What do you think? Was it worth playing with me?"
"I think so, yeah. I might need a replay to confirm that later."
Magnus laughs softly.
"I'll arrange that."
Magnus has to give Alec a more detailed guided tour of the bathroom when Alec needs to use it and then leaves him alone.
Alec really, really wants to be familiar with Magnus's home soon, before guiding him around reminds Magnus that no matter how capable Alec is, in some areas he will always be a high-maintenance boyfriend.
Alec washes his hands and does his best to push that ugly insecurity down.
When he comes out and carefully returns to the couch, he says:
"You know, we could watch something now. If you have something fun."
"We'll find something."
Alec wonders what time it is. He doesn't want to ask his phone about that because Magnus would hear and take it as Alec wanting to go home.
Hoping that Magnus would plainly tell him if he wanted to call it a night, Alec stays silent on that matter because he wants to stay a little longer.
"Stay the night," Magnus says after the movie's over.
"I don't want to impose…"
Magnus touches his hand, giving Alec that electric sensation again.
"Stay. I'll get you a t-shirt and sweats to sleep in. The guestroom always has a stash of toothbrushes. I want you to try my Belgian waffles in the morning."
"Okay," Alec agrees softly.
The guestroom has a king bed, a wardrobe and a desk with two chairs along one wall. The other wall has a bookcase and the door to the bathroom. There isn't much for Alec to trip on, unlike in the rest of the apartment.
For a second Alec considers sending out a text that he'll be staying over but then reminds himself he lives alone and no one will be expecting him home for the night. He swears Magnus is making him feel like a teenager all over again.
Alec slips into the bed, which reminds him of some of the hotels he's stayed in in the past because it's so comfortable and the bedding is definitely high-end.
What reminds Alec even in the middle of the night that he isn't in a hotel is the warm smell of the home and that atmosphere specific to Magnus. Alec still doesn't understand it but he decides he likes it.
Alec wakes too early. His body knows it's way too early and that he can go right back to sleep but his mind keeps him awake a bit longer because it tries to figure out why Alec is awake.
And there it is- now it registers that there's a weight on his chest, a slightly vibrating weight. Alec thinks about it and comes up with only one possible solution. There is a cat sitting on him. Lightwoods never had a cat but Alec's and Izzy's friends did so he's familiar with those vibrating creatures.
Why didn't Magnus mention it? Even if he'd locked it somewhere so it wouldn't get under Alec's feet, he should have mentioned it.
And now that he thinks about it, Alec remembers that something has touched his leg ones back in the living room.
Magnus probably let the cat out once Alec was in the guest room. The doors were closed for certain, Alec thinks. But hey, cats are known for doing crazy things. It could have jumped to the handle to investigate the stranger in Magnus's home.
Alec doesn't mind. Pulling his hand out from under the comforter, he slowly reaches out to touch the cat. He hopes it won't scratch him for assuming he could pet it.
It doesn't startle. It's warm and soft, and round from the position it's curled up in on Alec's belly. It's funny though, Alec's hearing is perfect, especially when it's still nighttime, but he can't hear any purring. He can feel it though, and he keeps petting the cat until sleep takes over again.