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Alec looks so peaceful leaning against a tree, eyes shut, face relaxed, that Magnus almost considers not announcing his arrival just to give Alec a bit more time like that. But his phone is burning a hole in his pocket, his last text conversation with Isabelle playing on a loop inside his head. He needs to talk to Alec.
Magnus starts by sitting down, leaning back against the large tree trunk, his side brushing Alec’s. Alec jumps a little, but as soon as he sees Magnus, he relaxes again. A content grin spreads across his features. Magnus does his best to return it, he can’t help but smile when Alec smiles at him, but his questions are weighing heavy on him, and he forgoes any greeting to ask, “You told your parents you’re going to marry me?”
The grimace on Alec’s face feels like a punch to his sternum. Magnus quickly looks away to study the park in hopes Alec doesn’t see the pain in his eyes. “Who told you?”
“You know Isabelle and I have a near constant stream of text conversations,” Magnus says with as much levity as he can muster. It’s fine if Alec doesn’t want to marry him. Alec wants him, wants to date him, loves him. That’s enough. No one’s wanted to marry him before, why should Alec be any different? All that matters is that Alec wants Magnus in his life.
Alec sighs and rubs his temples. “I hoped she might have some sense of digression with this.”
“So it’s true? You told them you’re marrying me?”
“Yeah.”
Magnus turns to look at Alec again, trying to understand. Alec doesn’t want to marry him, but he told his parents he does. Has his darling Shadowhunter decided to suddenly emulate Jace and Izzy’s rebellious natures? “Why?”
Alec’s scrunch his nose in an adorable little motion and Magnus almost forgets the ache in his chest. “They were trying to set me up with a woman from Idris, even though I’ve been out to them for a year and they know I’ve been with you longer. I kind of… snapped.”
Even now, Magnus can hear the frustration in Alec’s voice. He aches for his boyfriend. Alec’s parents haven’t been supportive in the least since he came out, probably since long before that, and he knows it weighs on Alec. “So you lied to them about wanting to marry me?”
Magnus can’t see this ending well. Either Maryse and Robert will realize they’re not going to actually marry, probably exactly what the older Lightwoods are hoping for, or he’ll have to fake a marriage to Alec and doing so might just break him.
“I didn’t lie,” The determination in Alec’s voice catches Magnus off guard. He looks so sure of himself, hazel eyes blazing with certainty. It’s not an unfamiliar look on him Alec who is so passionate about so many things, but it confuses Magnus now. A bit of traitorous hope weasels into his heart despite his best attempts to numb himself in fear of what might be coming next.
Off-kilter, Magnus resorts to humor. “Were you going to include me in these wedding plans, or just randomly take me to a courthouse for a future date with no explanation?”
Alec rolls his eyes, but his expression is fond. He reaches out, fingers brushing the side of Magnus’ hand before he picks it up and laces their fingers together. His touch is warm and familiar and comforting, and Magnus relaxes just a little. “I’m going to propose to you, Magnus.”
“You are?” Magnus feels breathless again, but this time it’s entirely pleasant.
“Yeah.” Alec raises their joined hands to his lips, pressing the softest kiss to Magnus’ ring finger, the one place he’s never adorned with jewelry before. “I’ve wanted to marry you since… as long as I can remember. The first time I saw you, I thought 'I want to marry him' which was probably mostly lust back then, but I never stopped thinking it.”
Magnus can only stare, amazed and awe-struck and so very in love.
“I wanted to surprise you, but I lost my temper and Izzy can’t keep a secret to save her life. And my mother is ignoring me every time I try to ask her for the Lightwood family ring because she knows exactly what I want to use it for.”
Magnus smiles softly at that, despite his perpetual annoyance at Maryse Lightwood and her inability to support her son. “Darling you could propose to me with a candy ring and I’d say yes.”
Alec grins, his entire posture brightening. “You’ll say yes?”
Magnus barely resists the urge to laugh. Instead, he presses a kiss to Alec’s cheek. “Why don’t you ask me and find out?”
“I will,” Alec promises with a devoted kind of solemnity. “Not yet though, I have plans.”
“You do?” Magnus is increasingly delighted. His darling Alexander continues to surprise him in all the best ways.
“You deserve the best,” Alec murmurs, softly kissing the corner of Magnus’ lips.
“You’re the best,” Magnus returns in the same hushed tone. It’s true, he couldn’t do better than Alec Lightwood, nor would he want anyone else.
“I’ll propose when I have everything ready, but for now…” Alec trails off, leaning away and using his free hand to pluck a nearby daisy, long stem and all. “Give me your hand?”
Magnus does. Alec releases his right hand to use both hands to take Magnus’ left. He brushes his thumb over Magnus’ ring finger, before looping the stem around it and tying it off in a gentle knot.
“A promise ring,” Alec says, his ears a lovely shade of pink.
Magnus’ magic curls out, almost of its own accord, to preserve the flower, ensuring it will last as long as he does. He wants to save it forever.
Then, because he can’t resist any longer, Magnus leans in and catches Alec’s lips in another, longer kiss, already imagining becoming Alec’s husband.