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*
First Visit: Age 12
The annual seven hour drive up to their vacation home in Maine has taken its toll on Alec. Thanks to his younger siblings’ insistence on providing an off-key soundtrack to their journey to ‘help pass the time’ and the crowded backseat that’s short on legroom and elbow space, he’s feeling irritated and cramped. Being slow-cooked by the early August heat on top of that, certainly hasn’t helped.
But the moment their car pulls off the coastal road and onto the one marked private property, all that suffering is replaced with eager anticipation for the freedom and peace he’ll soon find in the surrounding woodland and private beach. Failing that, behind the locked door of his bedroom in the loft, where the view from his window is spectacular, with or without the telescope.
When they finally reach the front porch of the house, even the request to help his father with the cases can’t put a dent in his smile, dutifully dumping Izzy’s and Max’s in their rooms and throwing his own onto the bed before hitting the sloping path that runs from the back of the property, down to the shoreline.
With a lengthy stretch to rid his shoulders of any leftover tension and a lungful of sea air, Alec makes for the boulders that act as stepping stones up to the rocky outcrop that lines the far end of the beach, ready to test his climbing skills and rediscover his favourite hiding places.
Halfway up, he notices something. Weird markings on the rocks. They look similar to those zodiac signs in the paper, the ones that get Izzy so excited when they predict good things. He’s never seen them here before.
Reaching out to check if maybe they’re written in chalk or paint, Alec’s spooked to find he’s being watched from below by some stranger. A boy who looks roughly his age, studying Alec in much the same way as Alec’s studying him. Head tilted, mouth slack, eyes wide.
Alec’s heart’s racing like a bullet train but he doesn’t feel threatened. Not yet anyway. Just shocked. Still, he decides it’s probably best to climb down in case he has to make a sudden dash for home or put his karate skills to good use. Even though Alec figures he’s got about three inches on the other kid, he’s learned from practice matches with Izzy not to take an opponent’s size disadvantage for granted.
Only, when Alec reaches the sand, he’s too speechless to ask what the boy’s doing here. Because now that Alec’s within ten feet of him, he realises there’s something very different about him.
The stranger’s skin is literally glowing, for a start. A shade of bronze that manages to look warm, unlike the statues Alec’s familiar with back in New York, and his dark floppy hair is streaked with bits of gold that are the exact match for his eyes. Eyes that have Alec borderline hypnotised, they’re so…beautiful. And cat-like? Wow.
Recovering quicker than Alec, the boy straightens his shoulders and fiddles with a piece of jewellery on his ear before offering a shy smile, lifting one of his hands to wiggle his fingertips in a delicate wave that has Alec responding in kind, and remembering his ability to talk.
“Uh, who are you?” he asks, and watches the ear thing light up as his visitor takes a deep breath and steps closer.
“You may call me…Magnus,” comes the pleased reply, in a smooth voice full of quiet confidence. Although his expression doesn’t seem as sure, as if it’s new to him. Maybe it’s an alias.
Whatever the reason, Alec likes the sound of it. The name and the voice. So much so that he misses the fact Magnus has continued talking.
“Who are you?” Magnus repeats, inviting Alec to respond with an encouraging grin.
Great first impression. “ My name is Alexander, but everyone calls me Alec.”
“Alexander.”
Hearing Magnus say it back to him, like it’s something that brings him personal joy, is unexpectedly sweet. Alec only ever hears it used in full when he’s either in trouble or being introduced to someone his parents want to impress. It makes a nice change.
“Um, where are you from, Magnus?” Alec asks, an unsettling thought making him add, “Are you lost?”
Taking another step closer, Magnus shakes his head and taps a ringed finger to his lips as he looks skyward while considering his reply.
Alec takes the chance to sweep a cursory glance over the rest of Magnus’ appearance. The fingernails are painted, glittery and gold, and there’s a thin bracelet around the exposed wrist. Magnus really likes shiny things. Apt really, because his outfit, a cool-looking combination of uniform and wet suit, is in the colours of a magpie, the diagonal collar dividing the black and white, and lined with various stones that looked decorative, but could be activation buttons for stealth weapons for all Alec knew.
For a fleeting moment, Alec wonders if he’s being naive, thinking this friendly space kid is harmless, when really it could just be a front for something more sinister, like a spy on a reconnaissance mission before reporting back on an attack.
A gentle cough brings him back to the present. Another shy smile disperses the ridiculous concerns instantly.
Or is Magnus just that good?
“Is something wrong, Alexander?” Magnus asks, head dipped to catch his eye.
Alec gives himself a mental shake, “No, it’s fine. Sorry. I’m listening.”
Reassured, Magnus is about to speak when his bracelet emits a chime that takes them both by surprise.
Magnus gives him a sad smile this time, and Alec knows he’s not going to like the explanation for it. “I have to go now. They are calling me.”
“Who’s calling you? Where are you going?” Alec asks, suddenly not ready for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter to be over.
“My people. They are worried I’m missing, I have to hurry. Goodbye, Alexander,” Magnus replies, already backing away.
Alec’s desperate. “Will you be back? Magnus!”
“I will try.” And with an apologetic shrug and a graceful curl of his fingers, Magnus disappears in a ripple of air, leaving no trace that he’d even existed.
And leaving Alec brimming with unanswered questions and feelings too jumbled to deal with.
What on earth had just happened? How would he even go about explaining this to anybody? He couldn’t. Or rather, he doesn’t want to. Not yet.
Alec doesn’t know how long he sits there on the beach, but when he’s called in for dinner, he gets up with a heavy heart. With no way of knowing if or when Magnus might return, Alec has to at least act like everything’s normal, even if he’s loath to leave the beach in case he misses him.
Under his mother’s watchful eye, Alec chips in with conversation at the table, feigns enthusiasm for baking blueberry muffins with a three-year-old brother that plays with flour like it’s snow, and sits through a family favourite film that allows him to laugh on cue while his mind is light years away, eventually escaping to his bedroom on the pretext of needing an early night when his mother mentions that he looks a little tired.
Never more grateful for the big bay window and telescope that dominate the room, Alec takes advantage of both to frantically search for any visible signs that something, or someone, is down there on the beach, but of course it’s hopeless. He’s going to have to wait until tomorrow.
Sleep eventually claims him but even in dreams, Alec’s trying to find Magnus, on the beach, between the boulders, amongst the stars. Despite this, he’s hopeful when he wakes and races downstairs for a quick breakfast, already intent on seeing if those weird markings are still there, or if Magnus is waiting for him.
Hearing his parents’ plans for them to go visiting and have lunch in town however, effectively torpedoes his plans and his mood, even if it does involve his favourite restaurant. Ideas of bunking off are similarly dealt a blow when it’s mentioned that one of their closest friends here wants all the Lightwood brood to meet family that are currently visiting from Europe. That seals it.
When they arrive back home from their round trip, Alec’s patience is long gone and he fires himself out of the car like a shot from a cannon, quickly grabbing some things to sustain him on his stakeout of the sandy shores. A stubborn hope grows in his gut that because Magnus showed up around this time yesterday, he’s somehow more likely to do so again today.
An hour in, that hope is waning.
Until he sees it, the ripple, and then he’s giddy with excitement and relief, barely able to contain his smile when Magnus appears in front of him, looking just as happy to see Alec. Which only makes Alec even giddier.
Touching his ear cuff again, Magnus stops within touching distance this time. “Hello again, Alexander.”
Is it possible to miss a voice after twenty four hours? Apparently it is.
“Hi, Magnus,” Alec replies, a little breathier than usual. Aware that they may have limited time again, he launches into the most important questions first. “How long have we got to talk? Was everything alright after you left yesterday? Will you get in trouble for being here with me now? Because I wouldn't want that.”
Magnus’ looks amused by the eagerness, but his ear light is doing overtime for some reason. When it stops blinking, Magnus gives a little nod. Alec’s intrigued.
“I will not get in trouble. Do not worry, Alexander,” Magnus answers, palms raised as if to calm him. “It was my fault yesterday. I should not have wandered off.” Glancing briefly over his right shoulder at something Alec couldn’t see, Magnus adds, “And we have longer to talk today, but I must stay within sight of my guardian at all times.”
“Guardian?” Alec asks, squinting harder into the distance to see if he can locate another ripple, but the only ripples he identifies are the nervous ones running down his spine at the thought of being kidnapped, or worse, by some cosmic bodyguard he inadvertently annoys for some unknown reason.
It’s not like he’s going to hurt Magnus. It’s the last thing Alec wants to do. So he gives a thumbs up signal for the invisible companion, wherever they may be, and invites Magnus to sit next to him on the outcrop ledge that affords them a little privacy from the house while being open enough in every other direction.
Once settled, Magnus asks what’s in the bag Alec’s forgotten he was even holding.
“Oh, right. I made some blueberry muffins last night. The fruit grows in the fields near here, and I thought you might want to try one because of that. If…if it’s something you can eat, of course,” Alec explains, gesturing with his mouth that it’s food, then inwardly kicking himself for being so lame.
But seeing Magnus go all soft for this small gift turns Alec’s pain into pride.
Cautiously shuffling a bit closer to Alec, Magnus’ gratitude is obvious when he speaks. Thank you, Alexander. It is very kind of you to share this with me.”
Alec can only nod, transfixed as he is with the proximity of Magnus and how it affects Alec’s senses in a way that’s both awesome and scary at the same time. But he doesn’t look away, and neither does Magnus.
“You are not the only one with questions, so where should we start?” Magnus asks gently, and Alec’s brought back to the where and why of the present with only a mildly embarrassing blush.
“Let’s start with wherever home is for you,” Alec suggests, and so begins the rest of their short time together.
Over the course of the following ten days, as often as it can be arranged around guardian approval and holiday commitments with the family, they meet there and find out as much about each other as they can.
Alec learns that ‘home’ is a planet named Hera Magus, which sits in between two larger ones called Glasen and Nedmos, in a system Alec’s never heard of before despite knowing a lot about space in general. Only marginally larger than Earth and also densely-populated, it has a wider range of both natural, and not so natural, resources according to Magnus, but because of increasing climate changes caused by its alignment with their neighbouring planets, it’s suffering in ways that Alec finds relatable and makes the repeated cycle of research missions to similarly-afflicted places, such as the one that brought Magnus here, more important than ever.
He also discovers that although Magnus is just a trainee at this point, he and others like him who share the same analytical skill set needed in scientific roles, including his crew members, are known back home as Inquisitors. Making them the ideal candidates for carrying out the research.
Magnus’ kind, however, are a hybrid species known as Alta, whose colourful skin and capacity to ‘glow’ depend on more factors than just what environment they’ve grown up in, and can even be independently adjusted to blend in if something like safety is an issue. When Alec accidentally wonders out loud if they all look as beautiful as Magnus, he hears that cute chuckle again, which makes Alec’s face go the colour of Mars itself, earning him a full-blown belly laugh as a result.
Alec figures it’s more than worth it and joins in.
Anyway. Their human-like form and complex biology give them some crazy abilities that are part supernatural, part technological, which Alec is honestly in awe of even if he’s only witnessed a few of them.
For example, how their pupils actually change shape in relation to certain tasks like taking photos or scanning purposes. The way his two rings can be tuned to record and replicate texture that’s being touched, and how the ear cuff , as Magnus calls it, is used to recognise different languages and help modify Magnus’ speech accordingly so that he can talk with those he already has base data for.
When Alec had asked to hear his native language, Magnus’ glow had intensified in the prettiest way, making Alec wonder if it was his version of blushing. Alec kind of hoped it was. And although he couldn’t understand what was being said, the mellow sound was almost musical to Alec’s untrained, but totally biased, ears.
Conscious of being supervised, and entertained enough just by the power of Magnus’ presence alone, Alec had no interest in asking to see more examples of his abilities beyond those Magnus offered freely because he didn’t want this magical boy to feel like some circus animal performing tricks, no matter how appreciative and respectful the audience.
With Magnus’ appetite for knowledge easily matching his own, they try to cover as many different topics that they can. All the big ones like family, society and travel, and fun ones too like hobbies, weird animals and what makes them laugh.
Never running out of questions, only time.
At the end of those ten days, when it’s time to somehow say goodbye because Magnus has to leave, Alec feels as if his heart is actually breaking, never to recover. He’s clearly terrible at hiding this because, when they’re allowed a final minute of real privacy by the guardian he now knows is called Ragnor, Magnus cups his face with warm, soft hands and rests his forehead against Alec’s in a moment of shared grief.
“Tell me you’re coming back, Magnus. Please .” Alec whispers, already knowing that it would never be soon enough.
Gently wiping away Alec’s tears, Magnus tries his best to reassure him and offer hope. “Although it might be a while, maybe results will see us sent back earlier than we think. Besides, why wouldn’t I? Look what I have waiting for me.”
Then Magnus reaches into the hidden pocket of his jacket for something. “Here, take this,” he says hurriedly, pressing a piece of silver and black rock into his palm that’s a mixture of smooth marble and rough stone and shot through with iridescent colour. “It’s from my planet. As a reminder.”
Alec swallows hard as he grips it. He won’t be forgetting Magnus any time soon, but nods because he appreciates the gesture.
As Magnus turns to head for the ship that’s waiting for him on the other side of the outcrop, Alec has an idea.
Shouting, “Wait,” Alec frantically searches the shoreline for something resembling a memento worthy of Magnus, settling for the first most interesting-looking stone he can find, which Magnus receives with a wobbly smile. “Thank you, Alexander.”
With a final, delicate wave, Magnus leaves. And Alec’s wait for his return begins.
*
Second Visit: Age 22
Every vacation trip since Magnus visited has failed to live up to Alec’s now impossibly high expectations, and even looking around at the familiar, happy faces of people he’s known since childhood here, Alec’s beginning to worry that he’ll never be able to enjoy them half as much as he did when he was younger.
Throwing back the rest of his drink and heading for the bar, Alec knows he really shouldn’t be having these pessimistic thoughts in the middle of an engagement party of all things, but his family’s been back in town a whole week already, and it’s getting harder with each passing day to hide the disappointment Alec feels deep in his bones over Magnus not having returned yet.
Harder still to convince himself that it was a ridiculous thing to have hoped for in the first place, after all these years.
Nursing a double this time, Alec sidesteps the incoming conga line and finds a corner dark enough to suit his mood, and avoid Izzy’s blatant attempts at matchmaking.
Oh, it’s a cruel thing to spend eleven months of the year waiting for August, only to be suspended in torturous limbo when it arrives, and have it disappear again in the blink of an eye without seeing him, but Alec’s life back in New York is kept intentionally busy for that very reason. Recently graduated and newly employed, even his chosen career in environmental science has been heavily influenced by the lasting impression Magnus made a decade ago.
Alec still keeps that little piece of Hera Magus close at hand. Calls it his reminder rock, and seeks out its comforting weight so often, that it’s become habit at this point.
Heaving a deep sigh, Alec decides that’s enough wallowing for tonight and reassures his parents that he’ll be fine as he takes his leave and gets a taxi home.
At first, Alec assumes the heat he’s feeling must be heartburn, but as his inside pocket begins to slowly glow, Alec’s heart slams hard against his ribcage.
Can it really be happening?
Urging the driver to hurry, Alec curls his hand around the reminder rock and feels the soothing warmth of it. Almost teary-eyed when they round the final bend and he can send the driver on his way. Alec takes the path down to the beach at full tilt, sure-footed in spite of the night sky and his slightly inebriated state, skidding to a halt when the signature glow of his dearly missed friend shows him standing near the boulders, full grown but still achingly familiar.
And somehow, even more beautiful.
Obviously taller and stronger, with a sharper profile and jawline to match, Alec’s still got a few inches on Magnus, despite the swept up hair that’s sort of wavy on top and magenta-tipped today, and although he’s upped the boldness of his jewellery, it’s the memorable eyes, now rimmed in black, that take the last of his breath away.
He’s here. Magnus is really here .
Once again, Magnus is quicker to recover, shrugging his shoulders as if to say, I told you I’d be back, before walking to within arm’s reach of Alec and delivering his greeting in a voice that’s deep and husky now, as well as smooth.
“Hello, Alexander.”
God , he’s missed hearing Magnus say that. How does it sound even better than before?
“Hello, Magnus,” he replies, voice unsteady, but Alec’s too soft with relief and happiness to care about the odd tear. Stepping closer to cradle Magnus’ equally damp face with hands that also betray him, he shuts his eyes as he brings their heads together in a shared moment of joy.
Magnus chuckles, and it’s still the prettiest thing to hear.
Even so, Alec desperately needs to free his chest from the suffocating emotions he’s had to shelve, and hide, from everyone else since they last saw each other. But doing it here, now, isn’t ideal.
“How…how long are you here for this time?” he asks, bracing himself against Magnus as he waits.
Warm hands cover his own. “Not long enough.”
Damn it.
Then they’d better not waste it.
He’s debating whether it would be best to invite Magnus up to his room so they could talk there or wait to gather his thoughts properly overnight, when the decision’s taken out of his hands by Magnus saying he has to get back to his crew, but that he’d be back tomorrow when Alec is free.
It takes a Herculean effort to let Magnus disappear again, but it’s a much briefer wait till their next meeting at least, and it gives Alec time to plan things for them to do, research allowing.
The reminder stone keeps him warm throughout the best night’s sleep Alec’s had in a long while, and remains so over the whole period of Magnus’ visit.
He’s unsure if it’s the balmy weather he wakes up to or the prospect of making Magnus laugh again that changes his mind, but Alec decides to postpone the heavier discussion that had been burning a hole in his throat last night and just enjoy having his special someone to talk to again.
The clock is already ticking, and with the rest of the Lightwoods preparing to network elsewhere for the next couple of hours, Alec makes it down to the beach earlier than arranged, but Magnus has beaten him there. Shimmering into view as he waves from the entrance of their rocky hideout of old.
It’s a sight that Alec knows now he must savour. And he does.
Then he’s scaling the rock at a much quicker speed than when they’d been younger, and it’s impossible for even someone as notoriously blind to other people’s interest as Alec is, not to notice the way Magnus is watching him as he climbs.
It’s just probably because Alec’s own appearance has changed in more ways than he realises in those intervening years, but it’s still another keepsake for Alec’s private collection of comfort memories that he gratefully banks.
Maybe Magnus is doing that too.
Alec fervently hopes so.
Welcoming him with a cheery, “Good morning, Alexander,” and a blinding smile, Magnus makes what room he can so Alec can fold his frame into what’s become a much smaller space now they’re adults.
It’s a cosy affair but neither are complaining about being huddled together.
“Morning,” Alec replies once they're settled, conscious of the way he’s all flushed from the recent exertion, and nothing else. “Is Ragnor joining us today, because I think it would be a challenge to have him up here too?”
Mischief and delight colour Magnus’ first reveal of the day and Alec’s here for it. “As much as I love a challenge, we are free of supervision now that we’re no longer minors. And he’s finally accepted that I can take care of myself.”
There’s no denying the fondness in Magnus’ words, and once they start talking about family and friends again, it’s easy enough to fall back into discussing everything else under the sun again, their enthusiasm for learning about what’s been happening while they’ve been apart knowing no bounds.
The mood becomes a little downcast when Magnus talks about how the increased missions to scout for solutions to their worsening climate problems aren’t yielding swift enough results to make the impact that he’d like back home, so Alec comforts him with an arm across his shoulders that actually does yield swift results. Immediate, in fact.
Alec keeps it there anyway. Until Magnus’ duties call him away.
That sets the pattern for the following days, which they spend alternating between their rocky hideout and the deep woodland bordering the house that offer s more space, even if they choose not to use it.
On the fourth day, Alec strikes gold when Izzy’s boat party and Max’s sleepover align perfectly with their parents’ date night, leaving him free to invite Magnus up to the house for the very first time.
After it’s eagerly accepted, Alec realises this will be the closest thing he’s ever had to an official date, let alone bringing somebody home, but he can’t deny it feels right that he’ll be experiencing it with someone who’s become, not just the closest, but the only one Alec recognises as his soulmate.
Official date or not, it’s still a big enough deal to make Alec a little jittery as he tidies up, giving himself a pep talk as he goes.
Which is why he’s relieved when there’s no weird awkwardness between them during the brief tour of the house. Although it is kind of sweet when an unusually hesitant Magnus pauses in the doorway of Alec’s bedroom and asks if he may record some of what he touches and sees for posterity, and nobody else’s viewing pleasure but his own.
Alec doesn’t hesitate. “I trust you.” Then reaps the reward of a warm caress against his cheek for his show of faith, before the step inside.
As he’s answering Magnus’ quickfire questions from his comfy spot on the bed, Alec’s curious why certain items are catching his investigator’s sharp eye, and what damning judgements are being passed when Magnus breezes past those that don’t.
Either way, it’s a fascinating watch, having Magnus eagerly and respectfully running those fluid fingers over everything Alec owns. The contact increasing their sentimental value to Alec a hundredfold, no question.
Especially the top Magnus asks to try on, his faded New York Giants shirt. Alec wore it on day one of their reunion. He tells Magnus to keep it.
The sight has Alec’s skin tingling all over. Magnus is beaming and glowing now.
Alec’s definitely not the only one hungry for souvenirs, material or otherwise, to cling to in more turbulent times.
Seemingly done with his initial nose around, Magnus mirrors Alec’s sprawl on the bed and rests back against his shoulder. Alec does a quick adjustment of the pillows for more support, and takes Magnus’ hand between his own.
“Well, what do you think?” Alec asks, careful not to activate the ring as he smooths his thumb across it.
“I think it’s as interesting and cosy as you are,” comes the warm reply. He gets a squeeze of gratitude for that.
“I love seeing you here, in my room. In my home. It’s weird, but I love it.”
Magnus glances up, grinning. “I love being here.”
Alec hates how his mind adds the words, ‘ for now ,’ but there’ll be no better time for that baring of souls, so Alec opens up first.
He tells Magnus how he’s often wondering what he’s up to or where his next mission is. Worrying if he’s safe while travelling or in a broken-down ship that’s stranded. That every space-related news item makes him think of Hera Magus and its troubles. The way some words can trigger memories of a fun conversation or make Alec wish that he could tell Magnus something exciting. The lingering sadness Alec feels whenever August comes and goes without seeing him or the unending gratitude he feels at having been lucky enough to meet him in the first place. How important it is to Alec, above all else, that whatever is happening, Magnus is happy. And that he hates , more than anything now, that they will part again.
When he’s finished, it’s Magnus’ turn to unburden himself, and it’s of immeasurable comfort to hear that Alec has been thought of just as keenly and affectionately as Alec’s thought of him.
The heavy weight of silence and secrecy, having been released into the world, leaves them feeling much lighter than even they’d hoped, and after a short, indulgent rest, Magnus takes his leave.
Reminder rock in hand, and still basking in Magnus’ literal glow, Alec easily finds sleep.
When they meet up later the next day, it’s Alec’s turn to be invited to Magnus’ home. His temporary one, anyway.
The Trans Exo-System Scientific Analyser, worshipfully known as, T.E.S.S.A., is as sleek and sterile in its design as Alec would expect of a craft that’s an amalgam of clinical studies and sample preservation, and an impressively-engineered protector and enabler of its precious cargo and crew. But Alec’s honestly just as awe-struck with the pod-shaped dorms that serve as escape pods because that appeals to his gamer’s heart and the three-tier communal core threaded by a spiral staircase that doubles as a chute in emergencies. That’s cool as all hell.
Magnus is laughing at him, but he doesn’t care.
Even feels vindicated when he gets a disembodied, ‘Thank you, Alexander,” from T.E.S.S.A. when he says all this out loud.
When the four other crew members invite themselves for formal introductions, Ragnor’s eagerness to scrutinise Alec beneath his forehead lens and light was intimidating at first, but Alec’s soon genuinely taken with them all. Not only because they’re beautiful in their own colourfully individual way like pearlescent Dorothea, or equipped with state-of-the-art finger tools like Elliot’s forceps, but for the warmth of their personality as well. Although Catarina’s blue neck gills are really cool.
No. It’s the heartwarming camaraderie clearly being powered by trust and affection that glues them altogether, relationships forged through hardship and triumph alike.
They’re friends who travel the world together.
Hard not to be envious of that.
On day seven, T.E.S.S.A. confirms an emergency order that all Inquisitor-class personnel currently operating off-planet must return home immediately due to a chain of climatic disasters.
Alec only has an hour to say goodbye. But he’s learned to prepare something.
“For me?” Magnus asks, when Alec hands him the inlaid box with a photo of him in their hideout, a note to remind him that he’s missed, and a pendant that his mother won’t miss but speaks from Alec’s heart.
Magnus holds it up.
“It’s black tourmaline crystal, there’s deposits all over Maine, But it’s what some say it represents that made me include it. It’s meant to help disperse painful feelings, encourage love and help people bear a broken heart.” This is too hard. “For when you think of me.”
Solemn and heartsore, Magnus gathers him up in his arms, and they remain there until Ragnor can delay no longer.
Magnus draws back to put on the pendant and Alec brushes it with his fingers once it’s settled in pride of place. It may not be warm, like his reminder rock, but now they’ll both have something to hold when they fall asleep at night.
Magnus presses a warm kiss into Alec’s cold cheek, and whispers his hopeful parting words. “Remember. We always find our way back to each other, Alexander. Until then, I’ll have you with me.”
Alec’s heart shatters at his feet for a second time.
*
Third And Final Visit: Age 33
Even though the world of each member of his family had been turned upside down by his parents’ sudden and acrimonious divorce six years ago, and everyone had sought fresh starts elsewhere, Alec still calls this place their vacation home, despite it being his permanent place of residence now for the last few years.
It still holds the best memories of them as a loud and loving quintet, and it still holds his powerful memories of Magnus.
Worry, regret and sadness have marked the years since Magnus left for the second time. Even bitterness.
Last year in particular had been the one to almost break Alec.
Despite knowing there could’ve been a myriad of valid reasons why Magnus had failed to make it back here, not least the very real prospect of more unforeseen disasters or personal circumstance, Alec had clung to the usual anniversary of their meetings with every ounce of optimism he’d had left.
When the final few days of August had crawled by without any change in the appearance or temperature of the reminder rock, and no tell-tale signs of occupation or scientific endeavour had been found in familiar places in spite of his intense scrutiny, Alec had cried himself to an exhausted sleep, unable to face the world outside his room for a longer time than was healthy.
After that, he’d contemplated, not for the first time but more seriously, the possibility of drawing a line in the well-trodden sand, of putting the house and its land up for sale. Either with a view to giving in to Isabelle’s repeated pleas to move closer to her and Max in California, or finding a job that involved so much travel that he wouldn’t have time to miss the much-loved view from his bedroom window, let alone put down any kind of roots.
But he couldn’t. Just in case.
Alec got so mad at his own capitulation, he threw the nearest thing to hand at his bedroom window just so he didn’t have to look down there anymore. Ended up cracking it with the reminder rock. He’d never been so scared. If that precious stone had broken too…well, needless to say it hadn’t.
After that, Alec had doubled-down on his wish to stay. Instead of replacing the glass with another pane, he replaced the whole bay window with a wall-to-ceiling view that opened himself, and his room, up to the stars even more.
Again, just in case.
He’d traded his lucrative research job in New York, for a closer to home conservation post that enriched his soul instead, which he still doesn’t regret, and dived into helping community groups with a hunger for sustainability and stargazing.
Also, just in case.
The amateur photography, video diaries, parenting of two cats named Merlin and Arthur, and weekly video calls with his two nieces, those are just for fun.
As Alec thinks about rising from his bed this early on a cold morning in February, he knows he has much to be grateful for.
Right on cue he’s greeted by his furry companions, and it gives him a reason to get dressed and head downstairs.
He makes it halfway down when the reminder rock, now fashioned as a pendant around his own neck, gives off that unmistakable warmth, and suddenly he can’t breathe.
And then he’s running. Full-tilt. Sure-footed.
And he sees him. Not imagined. Not mistaken.
With one beautiful, beaming smile, now framed and full of love, Magnus makes him forget they’ve ever been apart. Just like that.
“How long have you got this time, Magnus?” is the first thing out of his mouth.
He dares to hope when Magnus’ face holds no trace of regret.
“Alexander, I’m never leaving you again.”
From that moment on, they were worlds apart, no more.
*