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When Magnus imagined what it would be like to turn twenty five, he never even dreamed about owning his own penthouse in Brooklyn, yet here he was.
He loved his job. Enjoyed his life.
Everything is perfect.
Save for the grumpy British doorman who seemed to have a thing for judging Magnus and his partners.
When he met Kitty, Ragnor laughed, telling Magnus that their fling will be over with the summer. Magnus isn’t sure why the man thought that his input was needed or appreciated but as the summer ended he quickly realised that the man wasn’t all wrong after all.
He rolled his eyes at the ‘i told you so’ look that seemed to become the default face expression for the man for weeks after.
When he started dating Imasu, Ragnor didn’t say anything but his face was worth a thousand word. Well, that was until Imasu decided to bring the charango over and played for Magnus to Ragnor displeasure and to Magnus’ absolute delight. He kind of wished their relationship lasted longer, if for nothing else, than to annoy the man, but Imasu didn’t seem to be on board with the idea of the two of them seeing each other just to piss Magnus’ doorman, even if in Magnus’ opinion, the man totally deserved it. Ragnor didn’t miss the opportunity to mock Magnus left and right about his boyfriend, and the inevitable end to their relationship, as he so kindly put it the second time Magnus brought Imasu over. He would love to say that the man was wrong but when he and Elias break up a few months later he isn’t all that surprised.
He really didn’t want Dot to ever meet Ragnor but he is out of luck one evening when she decides to surprise him. He dressed faster than ever but still leaves her with the man for almost ten minutes and a part of him is sure that she will be long gone by the time he rushes through the front door, but no. She is still there smiling and talking away with Ragnor. He is shocked, to say the least, when Ragnor tells him later on the night that Dot is lovely, but she isn’t the one for him, he isn’t sure what she could have done in ten minutes but whatever it was, he didn’t want to know. It’s not until half a year later when they break up, he finds himself sitting outside with Ragnor, a tea in his hand that Magnus made for the man himself, and coffee in his own, when Magnus asks if he has it against everyone’s dating life or is it some special treatment he signed up for without knowing when he purchased his penthouse. Ragnor laughs but doesn’t answer, instead, he sips his tea quietly.
When he meets Camille.. he thinks he found the one. He doesn’t care how many times Ragnor tells him that Camille is wrong for him, he neither listens nor cares, because he iswrong this time. Only he isn’t. It takes Magnus almost 4 years to realise that. He spent almost two of those years avoiding Ragnor like the plague not only because he has that pitying look on his face every time Magnus enters or leaves his apartment but also because Camille didn’t like him talking to Ragnor. Or anyone for that matter. It takes him months after the breakup to look into the man’s eyes and he isn’t sure what to expect, but he is met with sympathy and kindness and it breaks Magnus’ heart a little bit more. If that’s even possible. When he sits down next to Ragnor with tears in his eyes, he asks the man what is it that makes him so unlovable, that sooner or later, for one reason or another he always finds himself alone, he hasn’t got an answer.
He isn’t dating anymore seriously, not until he meets Etta. Etta is nice, kind, caring. Nothing like Camille. He isn’t in love however, so when Magnus walks towards his door after an afternoon date with Etta, he tells Ragnor not to bother. It’s clear that the two of them want very different things from their relationship, things Magnus isn’t ready to give and only when he sits next to Ragnor drinking tea and coffee respectively, that he wonders if it was his heart.
It’s almost two years later.. when he meets Alexander. It takes him only a couple of months to realise that what he felt for Camille wasn’t love. Not this kind of love. He is happy and Alec is perfect. Not literally.. but perfect for Magnus.
He is supportive without wanting to claim any kind of success Magnus’ achieves.
He is patient and understanding, giving space when Magnus needs to be alone, but never leaves when Magnus needs a him. He is passionate and loving, but not possessive and jealous. He is also sarcastic and salty at times, but there is always kindness in his hazel eyes, never crossing a line where he would end up being cruel or cold. Magnus loves him.
That’s why he manages to avoid bringing Alec anywhere near his apartment for almost 3 months. He knows there is only for so long he can keep him away, but he isn’t sure if he is ready to see the look on Ragnor’s face. Or even worse, hear him telling bluntly that this will, just like many before, end in a heartbreak and the two of them sitting on the stairs. No, he can’t go through that again. Not with Alec. But he also can’t avoid it forever.
It’s on their four month anniversary, and it’s almost ridiculous that they have one considering that Magnus is 34 and not 14, but he can’t find it in himself to truly be bothered by how such a small step in their relationship makes him burst with joy. He walks towards his front door, hand in hand with Alec as he halfheartedly listens to some anecdote about his siblings as he prays to god silently so Alec couldn’t hear his heart beating out of his chest for multiple reasons, one of those being Ragnor standing at the door with a slightly raised eyebrow as he is not so subtly looking at the two of them.
When they reach the door, Alec stops to say hello. He lets him introduce himself to Ragnor, who does the same in return. He told Alec earlier that he’d like to spend tonight alone and he agreed without praying for reasons, only nodding and smiling in acceptance and he doesn’t even know how that feels after Camille. Alec is like a gulp of fresh air after being confined into a tiny box for years. He doesn’t tell him that much of course.
Maybe one day. Soon.
He kisses Alec and watches him walk away and he almost forgets why he asked to spend the night alone, but then he catches Ragnor from the corner of his eyes.
He holds up a finger as soon as Alec is away before rushing up into his apartment, only to return with a cup of tea for Ragnor and coffee for himself.
They sit side by side, sipping their drinks when he can’t listen to the silence anymore and speaks the only thing that has been on his mind ever since he asked Alec out all those weeks ago.
“Alright..okay. Just tell me. I know you can’t wait..” he sighs without looking at the older man. “You are right my friend. I couldn’t wait because I’ve been waiting for this moment for almost 7 years.” He says and even though Magnus wasn’t looking at him first, the words and the tone makes him snap his head to the side.
“I’m happy for you Magnus.” Ragnor smiles carefully but kindly and Magnus can only blink in surprise.
“What? No.. you should know better? No.. he isn’t right for you?” He asks, because he needs to hear it.
“No. I think he is right for you. And you are for him.” He says calmly and Magnus feels lightheaded for a moment as the words truly register.
“Why? He was nice yes, but so were the others. Okay.. maybe not Camille.” He shrugs.
“Don’t forget Imasu and his instrument of torture.” Ragnor chimes in as he takes a sip of his tea. He contemplates whether or not this is the right moment to tell the man that he actually got one from the man, before they broke up of course, but he’d rather keep it as a surprise for now.
“Let me try it.” He says, motioning towards the cup between Ragnor’s hand who hands it over with an odd smile.
It takes roughly two seconds for that odd smile to make perfect sense as he tastes the tea.
It’s beyond terrible. He spits it out, grimacing as he hands it back over, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“That.. is awful.”
Ragnor smiles as he lifts it to his lips and before taking a sip, he adds.
“I know.” He says and Magnus opens his mouth to ask, why on Earth he spent the last seven years drinking that abomination, but shakes his head instead.
There are some questions he doesn’t want an answer for. But there are ones he does.
“Yeah okay.. but.. what is it about him that the others didn’t have? What is different about Alec?” He asks, trying to understand.
Ragnor laughs as he shakes his head before turning to his friend.
“Magnus.. I was never looking at them. All this time.. I was looking at you.