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Magnus has always thought Alex was beautiful.
From the moment they met, he never doubted that Alex Fierro was ethereal. She was sarcastic, witty, and utterly radiant.
Magnus wasn’t surprised when she shut down his healing. Alex leaned away from vulnerability.
She was guarded. Most people were, especially when they’re destined for war after dying young.
The minibar privileges helped ease the anxiety, just a bit.
Even after they started dating, Magnus never expected her to open up suddenly, and he was fine with that.
It had hurt at first that Alex wasn’t sure about being with him, but it was never really about Magnus. He had removed himself from the equation and realized that the lack of commitment at first had more to do with Alex’s nature. She changed.
So Magnus adapted and found himself happily in love with Alex Fierro. He waited for her to push boundaries, ask him out, and initiate affection. He found that he didn’t particularly mind.
Magnus blinked.
Blitzen, Hearthstone, and Samirah sat with him for lunch at a quaint cafe. The Chase Space was closed briefly for renovations, also known as “magical barrier replacement”. A wolf had tried to break a window and parts of the wall. Magnus almost shivered at the memory.
Thankfully, Hearth could reapply the rune protections Randolph had before, but it would take a couple of days.
They were seated in the back of the shaded cafe, curtains pulled shut. Sam intermittently checked the front door for signs of Alex. She was meant to join them later. A pottery project needed to be finished while she was properly inspired. Magnus thought her work looked amazing regardless, but he wasn’t the artist.
Magnus smiled to himself. Despite his missing partner, he loved having his family all together, especially since they were all busy with their own ambitions.
Somehow, they were on the topic of Magnus’ love life. Why? Because they were all nosy, especially since he and Alex had started dating almost two years prior.
He had been recounting a recent hike they’d gone on, sharing some of the funny and cheesy moments. The latter mostly consisted of Magnus professing his love or attraction to his (at the time) boyfriend, and said boyfriend taking all sorts of actions to shut him up.
The most common method was a simple “Shut up, dork.”
But Magnus’ favorite was when Alex decided that kissing him was the most effective method.
Apparently, his heartwarming story only had one takeaway.
Alex didn’t say “I love you” back? Hearth signed slowly.
Magnus shrugged, “She hasn’t said it at all yet.” Hearth simply furrowed his brow at that.
He wasn’t sure that she’d ever feel comfortable saying it, and that was fine with him. However, it perplexed his friends, and their faces told him as much.
Samirah almost looked annoyed, “You’re just going to shrug? Magnus, you two might spend centuries together, and the fact that Alex may never express that to you doesn’t…” she stopped herself.
“Bother me?”
A honey bee had landed on a scone at the center of their table. The light caught its fuzzy coat as it flew away, probably to a less stale scone.
They all looked at him. Magnus met their faces with a soft smile, “It doesn’t, because I love her.”
Blitz seemed to gawk at that, pulling a laugh from Samirah and Magnus. Hearth simply moved to shut his jaw.
You’ll catch bees.
The dwarf grumbled and studied Magnus. The blonde squirmed in his seat. Was it really that weird?
“Look, kid. I know I can’t speak for you, but I would feel pretty sad if my partner didn’t feel like they loved me.”
He tilted his head, “She’s always found it difficult to be vulnerable, so I don’t think she doesn’t love me. Besides, I find joy in her happiness. I love her because of who she is, and that’s someone who likes to change. Her being in a relationship with me is already more than I thought she would want, more than I could hope for.
The more I learn about her, the more I want to cherish our relationship as it is, for however long she’ll let me.” Magnus signed as he spoke.
I treasure what we have now, because who knows how she’ll feel in 10, 20, or 1,000 years. Magnus thought.
“I don’t love her because I expect it to be returned, you know?” Magnus felt like he was running out of breath explaining himself. Who knew he’d be openly waxing poetics about his partner to his friend? He felt a bit sick from all of the honesty.
Blitzen sniffled, “That’s beautiful, kid. You should write a book or something.”
Hearth smiled slightly at him; he’d gotten better at showing his emotions throughout the years. That’s a very Magnus way of putting it. He signed.
Sam nodded with Hearth, a smile wide on her face. “Nothing more ‘Magnus Chase’ than a speech about love.”
“If you’re talking about my deeply embarrassing flyting-”
Sam’s eye caught a figure approaching, “Speaking of that…”
Alex Fierro approached the table. Magnus confirmed that she was still, well, she. They’d spoken briefly in the morning before she had isolated herself to finish the project.
Magnus caught her eye. Usually, he had to stop himself from staring in public, but he noticed a dazed look in her eyes.
She took the spot next to Magnus. He wondered if she was having trouble with her project or anything else. She didn’t seem upset, just a bit unfocused, which was a better sign.
“How’d the vase come out?” Magnus recalled that Halfborn had been asking her for a gift for Mallory. She’d been working on it for a while, trying to perfect it.
She blinked and turned to him. Was she flushed? “Huh? Oh, um—” Her eyes glanced warily around the table, like she was slowly establishing where she was.
She swallowed again before slipping back into their dynamic, “It was fine, I tried not to rush my glazing at the end.”
Sam smirked, “I’m sure it only turned out a hundred times better than whatever Magnus created last time.”
The blonde sputtered, “You make one lumpy mug, and suddenly everyone counts you out.” He turned to Alex for backup, who simply raised her eyebrow.
“Sure, Maggie. Except you’ve also made lumpy vases, plates, and bowls.” She sighed, “Really, the list goes on.”
Magnus grumbled and rested his head on the table; from this position, he could stare at Alex more discreetly. She was wearing a pink sweater today with dark green jeans. She looked good. Great, he amended in his head.
She snorted and poked his shoulder. “Get up, that table is not clean,” She scrunched her nose at the thought.
Magnus, reluctantly, raised his head and joined the conversation again. But, he couldn’t shake this feeling that something was off. Alex had fallen into conversation easily, but those first few minutes…
Magnus tried to glance at her subtly and found her cheeks were still red. Her eyes met his and seemed to pause.
Chill, Magnus. He shook his head mentally and looked away. Stop trying to psychoanalyze her.
Magnus was very dense when it came to these sorts of things. Alex would tell him if something had bothered her.
They continued to talk. Life updates, jokes, plans, they went through it all.
The sun had begun to set, judging from the small splash of color through a closed curtain. The staff also seemed to be throwing them annoyed glances. They had been here quite a while. Blitz pulled on his “bee-keeper” hat, as Magnus had named it. The group stood and moved toward the door, a smooth purple overtaking the sky.
“It was nice to see all of you. I have to get home.” Sam smiled at them.
Magnus wanted to hug them. His makeshift family had had trouble all meeting up lately, mostly Sam, with her life only getting busier. Samirah glanced at him, a calculating gaze sweeping over his and Alex’s clasped hands.
He tilted his head in question, and she shook her head.
Blitzen grunted and signed as he spoke, “Us too, some new designs are getting put out tomorrow at the shop, gotta prepare!”
Hearth nodded along. Good to see you guys. Missed you all.
Blitz took Hearth’s hand and waved as they made their way to the shop.
They had a shared apartment above where they stayed when not at the Chase Space. Magnus had visited a few times, and he couldn’t be happier for them.
They had finally gotten together after Blitzen had been stabbed. Nothing like a mortal stab wound to bring people together. He would know, Alex kissed him on the brink of their deaths.
After they parted ways, Alex and Magnus turned towards Valhalla.
“So… what did you guys talk about before I was there?”
Magnus almost tripped over himself. The question was so oddly specific. Puzzle pieces clicked in his head, like he could see the edges of a picture forming, but the middle was still blurry.
Magnus had never been a great liar; he had just gotten lucky that most Gods were hot-headed enough to believe him.
Which is why lying to Alex felt impossible. She would see through him as easily as she breathed. Why wouldn’t he tell the truth?
“You.”
They stopped beneath a tree in the middle of a park. The wind and rustling of spring leaves were the only sounds breaking the silence.
Alex almost choked at the honesty, “What?” Her face flushed a pretty red.
Magnus tried not to laugh and settled for a fond smile, “What? You’re very likable, is it that surprising?”
She seemed to regain her composure, a tinge of color blanketing her cheeks and nose. Mercifully, or perhaps stupidly, Magnus attributed it to the wind.
He could tell she wanted to agree, to brush this off and move on.
Stubbornly, she continued, “Magnus…” She trailed, and he realized that she was chastising him.
“I was telling them how much I love you.”
He noticed the wind was rustling their hair. The final rays of the sun caught Alex perfectly. They brightened her eyes and bounced off the gold necklace she wore. Magnus recalls that it was a gift from Sif, after she had returned the bloodstained wedding dress.
Magnus was perpetually amazed by Alex. Her smile, hair, eyes, lips… she was stunning.
Her eyes softened, “You’re staring.”
“Can’t help it.”
She huffed a laugh, moving her hands to grip the lapels of his open flannel. She pulled him down slightly, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Magnus pressed back, letting a hand rest loosely at her hip.
How long had it taken for them to get this comfortable? He wasn’t sure he remembered or cared. The present moment with Alex was all he really needed anyway.
She pulled away just enough to mutter against his lips, “You’re a dork.”
They stayed like that, staying in each other’s space. Magnus took the opportunity to ogle his partner.
After a moment, Alex rested her head in the crook of Magnus’ shoulder.
“I heard it. What you said.”
The blonde merely exhaled slowly. Had he subconsciously known? He supposed he should’ve felt nervous that his frivolous confession had been heard, but he felt strangely relieved.
He kissed the top of her head, all curls. She smelled like coconut. “I meant it.”
Alex looked up at him, her eyes were alight in the remaining rays of sunlight, “Magnus—”
He looked right back, “You never have to say it back, Alex.”
The last thing he wanted was for her to put distance between them again, to guard herself again. “If you get sick of me, hate me, resent me, leave me, whatever me, I’ll always love you.”
Eloquent, Magnus thought to himself.
Alex didn’t seem to notice. She shuddered, her eyes slightly glassy as she looked down, “I could never.”
“Alex, you don’t have to force yourself to change because of me. And I won’t change how I feel about you. I love the parts of you that are unsure of this, and if someday, you aren’t anymore, I’ll love that too.”
He was sucking in breaths now, but he needed to tell her.
“Alex, I don't expect you to be with me for centuries. I’m happy having you now, as you are, for as long as you’ll let me.”
She clutched his back as she buried her face in his shoulder once again. She choked out a sob. Magnus felt nervous; had he messed up?
Maybe he had said too much, felt too much—
Alex pulled away, and Magnus almost mourned the contact when she kissed him. She held his face gently in both of her hands and stroked his cheek as she pulled away.
When they finally parted, she brushed the hair out of his face and tucked the grown-out golden strands behind his ear.
“I love you, Magnus Chase.”
His eyes widened. She was staring at him, gently. It reminded him of caramel.
“You don’t have to—“
“I want to. I mean it.”
The blonde stuttered, tripping over his words. Alex laughed at him heartily before pecking his cheek again.
Was he dreaming?
“Let’s go, dork.”
But neither made any move to escape the embrace. A chill washed over them as the sun finally set. Magnus pulled her in, kissing her as deeply as he could. He pecked her a few more times for good measure before intertwining their hands and walking towards home.
When they reached their hall on floor 19, Alex and Magnus approached the same room wordlessly.
They changed quickly before dropping into bed together. Alex quickly inserted herself into the curve of Magnus’s body, pulling his arm around her and holding his hand.
Magnus flinched. “Your feet are freezing,” he hissed.
She snickered to herself. Magnus made no move to kick her off.
She turned towards him sleepily, her eyes still puffed and rimmed red.
She leaned into his chest and settled below his chin.
“I love you,” she muttered quietly into his shirt.
Magnus held her tightly and kissed the crown of her head, “I love you too.”