Work Text:
He misses Magnus. He knew what he was signing up for when he became a military spouse but thinking about it was completely different to living it. There were time differences to think of, half their conversations on text were 5 to 6 hours apart, the bed was empty in the morning and the house was silent. They couldn’t call much either, Magnus had to get ready for patrols, a mission could come up and sometimes, they just didn’t have time.
He knew Magnus was doing a good thing, serving their country and all that jazz. But that didn’t mean he had to like it all the time.
He missed his husband. Sue him.
However, missing his husband was not big enough of a reason to call in sick and not teach high schoolers Shakespeare. So he sends off his usual “good morning I love you” text to Magnus, knowing fully well he won’t see it till like 6 hours later, grabs his coffee and hops into his car.
***************
Thankfully everyone’s in their seats by the time he gets to class. Perks of being the resident “cool” teacher.
“Alright guys, let’s chill, I know it’s Monday and no one really wants to be here so how about we just go over the homework assigned over the week, if you haven’t done it, well the deadline is Wednesday but you’ll probably get the answers from those who have done it, which to be fair, is easier.”
The class titters and Alec grins.
One of his students, Cooper, raises his hand, “Uhh Mr.Lightwood?”
“Yeah?”
“How’s Mr.Bane?”
Magnus had taught history at the school the year before and he was one of the favorite ones so it was no surprise that students still asked him about it. It also didn’t help that the rest of the study body knew about their relationship.
High schoolers love gossip. Magnus blamed it on their dreary school life.
Alec finishes the rest of his coffee before answering, “He’s alright, it’s pretty hectic out there and he’s busy but he’s doing good.”
“Is he coming back soon?” Nia asks and Alec shakes head ruefully, “We’re not sure, so who knows?”
The rest of the class goes on without much ado, knowing how awful Mondays are, he’s more than willing to cut his sleepy students a little slack.
****************
“20 bucks say that Alec will jump on you the second he sees you.”
Magnus snorts and looks up from his phone to stare at his boyfriend’s brother, “Jace do you even know you brother? He won’t do that in front of the school.”
“You’re right,” Clary calls from their kitchen, she comes back into the living room, “He’ll probably question reality though.”
Jace frowns, “But he…”
Magnus turns away from the conversation and heads towards their bedroom, smiling as he passes the pictures hung up on the hallway. Their bedroom looks the same as it did when he left. Rays shine in through the windows, casting light on the unmade bed, his side of the bed is intact and his heart clenches at the thought of his Alexander going to sleep at night, alone and cold.
“Magnus, you good? We’re ready to go.”
Magnus grins and smooths out his uniform, “Hell yeah, let’s go see my husband, he’s waited long enough”
*****************
Alec groans as the speaker above him crackles, as does the rest of the cafeteria. The one break they get, to forget the prison they’re being forced to study in and it’s gotta be interrupted by some stupid announcement.
“Good day to you students of Idris High!!” The feedback squeals and Alec holds back the urge to throw a chair at the offending item. “I know we all value our lunchtime but we’re having a special assembly in the gym and I request you all to gather there.”
Alec follows the grumbling students there, fully sharing their resentment. He just wants to finish his lasagna dammit!!!
There’s a box in the centre of the basketball court when they enter but Alec doesn’t think much of it as he leans against the benches, he just wants to get it over with and get back to his lunch.
The principal walks up to the center of the gym, mike in hand.
“I know you guys want to get back to lunch as quick as possible so let’s do this shall we?”
As expected from high schoolers, silence ensues.
But Principal Burns continues, “Anyway, I need a volunteer! Anyone?”
Again, as expected, no one volunteers, high schoolers have no motivation.
So like any crazy person will do, she points at Alec and motions for him to come forward, “Mr.Lightwood!!! Mind helping out?”
Alec really really doesn’t want to. But he does.
He’s standing in front of the box now. Principal Burns shoots him a bright smile which he returns with a poorly disguised grimace.
“Well Mr.Lightwood as part of the surprise, you need to blindfold yourself.”
“You’re kidding me,”
She’s awfully cheery as she shakes her head and Alec’s getting a little suspicious, what could be in this box that’s so bad?
Still, he puts on the blindfold, smiling obligingly as she playfully scolds him about peeking.
“Well, I guess we’ve been waiting in suspense long enough, don’t you think?”
He hears the ruffling of the box and braces himself for the worst. Gasps and murmurs of surprise ripple through the crowd and Alec turns his head, hoping to catch a hint of what may be in the box. God, he hopes it’s not snakes. He hates snakes.
“Alexander, why don’t you remove the blindfold?”
No.
No fucking way.
He rips the blindfold off and comes face to face with his husband, decked out in his uniform, a huge grin on his face. “You’re not supposed to come home for a few more months!” he breathes out and Magnus huffs out a laugh, “Not the reaction I was hoping for but I guess-” He doesn’t finish his sentence as Alec tackles him into a hug and the gym erupts into cheers. He sees his brother and Clary walk out from behind the benches, the teachers are clicking pictures, lights flashing, students screaming.
“This is real right?” he whispers and Magnus tightens his hold, “Yes darling, it’s real. I’m real.”
“Good, cos I’m gonna be really mad if it isn’t.”
His husband laughs, “I assure you, this is very much real.”
He pulls back and narrows his eyes in suspicion, “Magnus, just how long have you known you’ll be coming back?” His boyfriend grimaces, “A week?”
Alec rolls his eyes, “How did you even manage to keep a secret that long?”
“Hey I’m not that bad.”
“Sure babe.”
Alec suddenly becomes aware of how they’re still surrounded by the entire school and he blushes as he pulls back, “Uhh Mags,”
The other man catches onto his train of thought and grabs the mike from Principal Burns, “It was good to see you Idris High but we’ll be taking our leave now, goodbye!!” And with that, he’s dragging Alec out, leaving behind the still cheering students and out to the parking lot where his car is waiting.
“Wait, what about my car?”
“Jace said he’ll bring it later.”
Alec nods and allows himself to take a moment. He’s back. Magnus is back. He laughs as Magnus pulls him close. “I think I’m owed a kiss, especially since you left me here alone for nearly a year and-”
He’s cut off as Magnus kisses him, it’s sweet and soft and so full of love and affection and Alec melts into it. It’s been so long, he’s spent a year missing his husband and finally, everything is right. Magnus is home, safe and sound and Alec’s never letting him go.
They spend the rest of the day in the park, eating lunch from Magnus’ favorite food truck, the owners were pleased that he had returned and they’d enjoyed 2 Cubanos “on the house”.
And for the first time in a long time, the bed wasn’t empty when Alec went to sleep that night. Instead, his husband had pulled him close and kissed him, telling him that he’d be there when they woke up. And Alec slept, safe in Magnus’ arms, looking forward to the next day for the first time in what felt like forever.