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Magnus glances down at his phone screen with a sigh. It’s late, a quarter past 11pm. He had gotten off the phone with some contacts in Japan just a half hour ago, and he feels the weariness of a long day of work settle deep in his bones. The streets are dark outside his office window, a few old iron street lights glowing dimly under the heavy snowfall. It started falling in earnest this morning, and Magnus knows that the streets of Boston will be covered in a thick layer of snow by tomorrow. Another long exhale leaves his mouth as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.
This much snow may impact flights. His lips twitch at the thought—the only sign of his frustration. He looks back down at his phone. Hazel eyes smile back at him through his lock screen, and Magnus finds that just the sight of his boyfriend brings him comfort; a soft smile surfaces on Magnus’ face. He had tried to call Alec earlier, after his call with Japan, but didn’t get an answer. He and Alec usually speak on the phone before one of them goes to bed, or at least they send a text, but Magnus guesses Alec must have been exhausted coming off of a challenging case.
Magnus knows how hard Alec had been working on this particular case; Catarina Loss was a client he had to convince Maryse to take on, and Alec was determined to show the case wasn’t a lost cause. It was not only important to Alec professionally, it was impossible not to get attached to the charming woman and her sweet daughter. Catarina is a nurse and single mother, who had been wrongfully fired by her hospital for revealing a doctor’s malpractice. On occasion, Magnus would sit with her daughter Madzie in the lobby of Lightwood & Associates while Catarina and Alec were finishing up business, and even he couldn’t deny that he was taken by the girl. Ultimately, the hospital agreed they would prefer to keep the case out of court, allowing Alec to negotiate an extremely generous settlement for Catarina. To say that Magnus was proud of Alec is an understatement.
It doesn’t mean that Magnus doesn’t miss him in moments like these. Neither Alec nor Magnus wanted a long-distance relationship, which led to Magnus relocating his headquarters from Boston to Brooklyn. It wasn’t a huge shift, as he had always split his time between the two locations, with a few trips to LA as needed. Since getting together with Alec, Magnus generally spends a week per month in Boston, of which Alec occasionally joins him for a weekend if his work allows. But this month they both have been preoccupied with work—Alec with his case and Magnus with his ever-expanding business ventures—and it’s kept Magnus in Boston for nearly two weeks now; the longest they’ve gone without seeing each other since starting their relationship. Which was why Alec had decided to come out for a visit. Tomorrow. The tomorrow that is now looking highly unlikely thanks to the snow.
As he pours himself a finger of whiskey from the bar cart that sits conveniently by the window, another sigh escapes Magnus’ lips. It’s no one’s fault, obviously, but Magnus can’t help but be disappointed about not seeing Alec for another week. Work has often become a point of contention in his previous relationships. Magnus was an attentive partner when he had the time, but when work inevitably became busy, his partners of the time would retreat; boring , they would say. Distant. Disinterested. Cold. Always the same—Magnus has come to expect it. So much so, that Ragnor has labeled him the cynical romantic.
But Alec is different, he reminds himself. He may be disappointed at times, but he would understand if Magnus apologizes and makes it up to him the next time they see each other. Just as Magnus is disappointed but understands that Alec will undoubtedly wake up to cancelled flights, and will call him first thing in the morning, explaining how alternative modes of transportation isn’t worth the time he’d get in Boston, how he wishes he could be here, how they’ll just have to make do with video calls for one more week… Magnus can already hear the apologetic tone (a pouty, disappointed Alec is not one Magnus could ever be truly upset at). He takes a large swill of his drink—comforted by the burn in his throat as it goes down.
He’s just about to accept his fate of a restless night when he hears the door buzzer go off. It startles him, almost making him spill his whiskey on his silk shirt (which would feel appropriate for the melancholy of the evening). He turns to look at the time—11:48—no one should be trying to enter his apartment at this hour. With his brows furrowed, Magnus crosses the living room to the intercom and activates the camera.
“Magnus?” A familiar timbre echoes through the tiny microphone, and Magnus sees the man he’s been thinking of all evening across the screen. “...Surprise?”
The man sounds uncertain, like he’s worried Magnus might not let him in. Magnus being rendered speechless is probably not helping the situation either.
“Alexander, what—”
A loud sneeze interrupts the unfinished question, and Magnus snaps back into motion.
“You must be freezing! Here, come in!” He buzzes Alec in, and disconnects the monitor. What is Alec doing in Boston near midnight? He was supposed to arrive tomorrow evening. Magnus paces across the living room for a moment before realizing he should probably unlock his front door to let his boyfriend in.
The timing is perfect because the knock comes right as he reaches the door.
“Darling.” He greets a bashful-looking Alec as he opens the door; the cold air from the hallway wafting in with him. Alec gives him a quick peck in greeting, his lips chapped from the wind and cold to the touch.
“You’re cold. Come in, let me get the fire started for you!” Magnus says, closing the door quickly behind Alec, who drops his duffle bag on the bench by the door. The two make their way to the living room, and while Magnus is elated for the unexpected surprise, he can’t help the confusion in the voice when he asks, “What are you doing here?”
“It started snowing!” Alec blurts out, cheeks red from either the cold, or perhaps his nerves—Magnus has always loved how beautifully his boyfriend blushes when embarrassed. The statement doesn’t really answer Magnus’ question, and that must be clear in his stunned reaction because Alec rambles on. “I saw that it started snowing here, and I realized that flights tomorrow may be cancelled, and… and I’m sorry. I should’ve asked if it was okay.”
He sounds dejected on top of nervous; shoulders slumping with each second that Magnus remains silent. Which, Magnus realizes with a start, has been far too long.
“No, no darling,” he places a warm palm against Alec’s arm. He smiles up at Alec, hopefully reassuringly. “You were exactly the person I wanted to see tonight.”
Magnus feels the tension bleeding out of Alec through his touch.
“Yeah?” Alec huffs with a crooked grin. There’s relief in his hazel eyes, and Magnus chuckles despite himself. He reaches out and loops his arms around Alec’s waist. Alec doesn’t hesitate to mirror the movement, and Magnus leans on his broad chest—bringing them cheek to cheek.
“I called you,” Magnus whispers against his ear.
“I know, I wanted to surprise you.” Alec is slightly breathless in response.
“Well consider me surprised.” He kisses Alec’s cheek and leans back, only to have Alec cradle his face and pull him back in for a proper kiss. Alec’s lips are still cold where it slots against Magnus’, but Magnus finds that he really doesn’t care.
Fire forgotten, they stand there— seconds bleeding into minutes as they lose time to the feeling of each other. Alec grips Magnus tight, one hand stays on his face, his thumb gently rubbing the ridge of his cheek. The other falls down to wrap around his back. Magnus angles his head, giving Alec the space to delve deeper. A tentative flick of the tongue prompting Magnus to part his lips in invitation; Alec’s cold skin a harsh contrast to the heat of his mouth. Magnus shivers at the feel, and Alec pulls away in a rush, breath coming in quick pants. Magnus leans in, chasing his lips, but they’re just out of reach. His own lips curl into a pout.
“I, fuck, sorry, I must be cold,” Alec stutters through his breaths. “I don’t want to make you cold.”
Magnus is quick to respond. “Then let’s get you warmed up.” He takes Alec’s hand, tugging him toward the bedroom. “A hot shower first, then I’m taking you to bed.”
“My bag,” Alec starts, even as he follows Magnus’ lead.
“You won’t need it for what I have planned for you.” Magnus winks, earning a flustered blush from the man. Oh, he’s just getting started.
****************
Magnus takes his time waking up the next morning. It’s quiet—in that way that only snow seems to bring about, where all sounds are absorbed into the thick layer of white on the ground. From behind his closed eyelids, he can tell that the sun is shining brightly into the bedroom; the snowstorm likely paused for the time being. He can’t remember the last time he woke up so comfortable, wrapped up tightly in a tangle of blankets and warm, naked boyfriend. Alec’s thigh is tucked between his own, his arm a comfortable weight over his waist. He’s rubbing gentle circles on Magnus’ lower back, and Magnus releases a happy sigh as he nuzzles further into Alec’s embrace. He hears an airy chuckle above him, followed by a gentle kiss to the top of his head. His face breaks into a giddy grin.
“You’re really here.” Magnus’ voice is still rough from sleep, and the words come out in a syrupy drawl. Alec’s hand slows, and he leans back to give him just enough space to look into Magnus’ eyes.
It takes Magnus a few seconds, still blinking away the cobwebs of sleep from his mind—the room suddenly brighter without Alec’s broad chest to shield him from the morning light. But when Magnus finally opens his eyes to meet Alec’s, his breath catches somewhere in his throat.
Alec’s hazel eyes shine bright with searing heat, and with each minute movement, they catch and reflect the sun like a kaleidoscope.
“Alexander.” He doesn’t know what to say, unsure of how to interpret the look in Alec’s gaze.
“I love you,” Alec whispers, as if it’s so obvious. As if it wasn’t the first time Alec’s uttered those three words to him.
And Magnus—Magnus tries to think back to the last time a partner expressed their love with such gentleness and adoration as Alec just did. Without an ounce of expectation in their tone, no agenda, no motive. Just because they feel. But Alec isn’t done.
“You’ve been working so hard, and I knew if I waited, it meant another week… And, and Magnus, you do so much, give so much for me, for us… so yeah, I’m here.” He huffs a breathy laugh. “As often as I can be, however you’ll have me.”
The nervousness creeps back into his voice, similar to when Magnus first greeted him at the door yesterday, and Magnus once again realizes that he hasn’t said anything. He takes his time, this time. Searching Alec’s eyes and finding nothing but sincerity. They flicker a little in uncertainty before Magnus finally opens his mouth.
“I love you, too.” He says, simply.
Alec releases a breath that Magnus didn’t realize he was holding, and melts back into Magnus’ arms. Magnus feels his lips on his forehead, the edges of his eyes, and the corner of his mouth. He tilts his chin up for a proper kiss, and Alec is happy to comply.
When they part after a languid, indulgent liplock, Alec’s eyes are crinkled at the edges in a beaming smile; they glitter under the golden rays, radiant and happy. Magnus basks in the moment, a mirroring smile on his face.
“I love you,” he repeats, before pulling his boyfriend back in for another kiss.