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“Now this is an unexpected date,” Magnus says, as if it humors him to be trapped in a frozen meat locker.
“Magnus,” Alec starts, but he can't summon any further words in his frustration, so he says nothing, all words failing him. He shoots Magnus a look of immense displeasure and turns on his heel, stalking ahead through the piles of frozen boxes, assessing the situation as his training taught him.
“Alexander,” Magnus calls out to him, almost sounding apologetic if not for the hint of amusement, as he hurries to catch up with him. “Have you forgotten so quickly what it's like to be blessed with my presence? My magical presence, precisely.”
“You can't,” Alec says with a glance back at him, frown edging close to a pout. “You used so much magic already researching the cult.”
And Magnus certainly noticed, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “A little more won't kill me, my adorable Shadowhunter.”
“Adora-” Alec's blue eyes are terribly wide, his skin flushed from the cold and embarrassment in equal measures. He shakes his head, not wanting to get distracted. “Magnus, let me look first. Please? Maybe there's something we can use… like a vent or a window.”
“It doesn't seem likely,” Magnus says with a disinterested look at their surroundings, the boxes piled high and labeled helpfully with types of meat. “Unless you're hungry for- no, that joke would be low-hanging fruit, and I would never demean myself that way.” He moves forward as he talks, easygoing and reassuring as he pulls Alec closer by the nape of his neck, ducking his head down lower to press a kiss to the chilled skin near his temple. “Wouldn't you rather we be somewhere warmer? Just say the word, and in a snap of my fingers, we can be in Bora Bora.”
“I- um- Magnus,” Alec says sort of helplessly, his skin flushing warmer beneath the close proximity Magnus maintains, the kisses against his skin not ceasing as he talks. “Magnus, I don't want to- I don't want to see you pass out again. Not like you did on the train.”
Magnus sighs as he presses one last kiss to Alec's lips this time, a lingering peck on the lips that's fairly chaste by his standards, and pulls back to cup Alec's cheek in his palm. “You get twenty minutes. If not, I am taking us out of here with my magic. Is that enough for you, pretty boy?”
Alec leans in towards him and the warmth Magnus always seems to carry, the one perk of being the child of a high demon, and then he remembers himself, moving back with a grateful smile directed to Magnus. “I'll be quick,” he promises, and then he's off through the rows of boxes, searching every corner without wasting another minute, all too thorough in assessing the place.
Magnus sits atop a box, waiting as he closes his eyes and feels for the dregs of his magic reserves. They aren't ideal, but he's sure he can make it work.
Alec returns shortly after, looking all too cold with his skin even paler beneath the dark clothing of a Shadowhunter, his runes stark against his skin. His lips are tinged an unpleasant shade of purplish blue. “It's airtight. The cult must've done their homework keeping us in here.”
Magnus pulls Alec towards him with an extended hand, Alec stumbling to half-fall against Magnus, awkwardly catching himself in his lap. “You look half-frozen,” he says as he presses Alec's face against his neck. “We aren't staying here a moment longer. My reserves aren't that dry, trust me.”
“Okay,” Alec says, half-mumbled against Magnus, his willing lean into him a bit concerning, as was his frigid cold skin and the tired weight of his press against Magnus.
“Somewhere warmer,” Magnus says, thinking an island might not be the best place for them after all, settling on a nice beachside home he has set away, his magic stirring with elation to protect and escape in equal measure. “We'll deal with the cult later, hmm?”
Alec manages to pry himself away from Magnus and his warmth, just enough to give Magnus a warning look. “Nothing far.”
“I would never,” Magnus lies, redirecting his thoughts to a closer location, a little cabin he had squirreled away not too far if his magic was estimating correctly.
Alec looks at him like he sees right through him, but he must be too tired to argue. Dire straits indeed.
With a flick of the hand, a portal opens before Magnus and he hefts Alec upwards with him, the Shadowhunter blinking rapidly as he adjusts to the sudden shock of cold in his face.
“I'm fine,” Alec mumbles as he pulls away, but not too far, largely from Magnus keeping a hand against his hip.
“Wouldn't want to lose you in that void,” Magnus teases, like a possibility would ever exist where he'd allow that to happen, and he pulls them through into the warmth.