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The words should have charmed Magnus but he just felt nervousness churn in his stomach. Part of him felt ridiculous — Alec was more than capable of handling himself — but he also wanted to make sure his boyfriend was okay.

He left Isabelle with a smile and slipped away from the crowd to call Alec.

“Hello?”

“Babe, I — oh, shit fuck —” there was a clatter and a burst of static through the phone “— I’m on my way, I swear. I’ll be five minutes.”

“What’s happening?” Magnus asked.

“Ran into some Kuri demons,” Alec said, sounding breathless. “I’m fine, I — fuck —”

“Where are you?” Magnus asked, already drawing on his magic to make a portal.

“Brooklyn Bridge,” Alec said, then swore again and a demon screeched in the background.

“Stay there,” Magnus said, though he doubted Alec was thinking of going anywhere, as the portal flickered into life. “I’m coming to get you.”

Less than a second later he stepped out onto the bridge and found Alec in the middle of a battle with several demons. Magnus strode towards them with his magic sparking, then slammed his hands forward and released a wave of blue magic over the immediate area without even breaking a sweat.

The demons disintegrated in a shower of sparks and Alec pulled up short, seraph blade swinging at his side.

“Hey,” Alec said, breaking into a bright smile. He wiped his blade clean on his jacket and then his eyes went wide as he remembered he was on his way to the party. Magnus tutted fondly and snapped his fingers, cleaning the jacket.

“Is this what you call fashionably late?” Magnus teased, as Alec drew him in for a kiss, deep and heated and much more than just a hello.

Magnus pulled back after a moment, feeling smug despite being kissed breathless. He knew what effect seeing him do magic like that had on Alec and, true to form, Alec’s hazel eyes were dark as they regarded him.

“Would have been rude to show up empty handed,” Alec replied, walking over to pick up a bunch of beautiful white and red flowers that were propped up against the wall of the bridge. He returned to Magnus and caught his hand, kissing his knuckles. “For you.”

Magnus took the flowers with a smile, feeling a little weak in the knees.

“You’re ridiculous,” he said fondly. He pressed a kiss to Alec’s lips and then made another portal. “Back to the party?”

The words are raw with unspoken pain but tender, too, and Magnus lets himself sink back against Alec, both of them finding comfort in touch.

They make their way to the couch, Alec never letting go of Magnus’ hand. He sits beside him, alternating between clasping one of Magnus’ hands in both of his own and cupping Magnus’ face. All the while his eyes never leave Magnus’, just drinking him in.

“I’m here,” Magnus says softly. “We’re here.”

Alec swallows visibly and nods. “I know.”

Magnus puts his glass down and pulls Alec to him, wrapping his arms around him tightly. The tension in Alec’s frame bleeds out of him almost immediately and he buries his face against Magnus’ neck.

“I was so scared,” he says, voice muffled. “I thought — I —”

“Hey,” Magnus says soothingly, stroking Alec’s hair, his fingers curling through the dark strands. He shushes Alec quietly, not realising Alec is crying until he feels warm tears on his neck. “Don’t cry. I’ve got you.”

Alec clutches tighter at Magnus’ jacket, his words pouring out of him in a rush of overwhelming emotion. “I couldn’t find you, I couldn’t see you anywhere and I — I know you’re here but I feel like the minute I let you go, you’ll disappear, and I’ll wake up to a world without you in it.”

Magnus’ heart breaks at Alec’s words. He disentangles himself from Alec just enough so he can hold Alec’s face in his hands, looking right at him when he speaks. He hopes Alec can hear the sincerity in his voice.

“I promise I’m here,” Magnus says. “This is real.” He strokes his thumb along Alec’s cheekbone, Alec’s tear-damp eyelashes fluttering closed at the touch. “When I found you outside the Institute, I can’t begin to explain the relief I felt. Knowing you were safe, it meant everything.”

Alec opens his eyes and his lips curve up into a small, sad smile.

Magnus tips his head forward to rest against Alec’s. “I love you,” he says.

All of a sudden, Maia’s throat feels thick with emotion, her heart doing a little dance in her chest. Whenever Izzy says these kinds of things, like Maia belongs with her, like there’s no question about it, she never knows how to react. But it makes her feel all kinds of warm and safe and loved.

“Besides,” Izzy continues lightly, “they’ll understand - it’s Magnus, Alec, mom and Luke. I’d be surprised if they’re not round here within half an hour of me telling them we’re not coming because you’re sick.”

Maia lets out a croaky laugh. “I bet Magnus makes fantastic care packages.”

Izzy smiles at her, pushing her hair back from her forehead.

“I’m staying here,” she whispers, leaning close enough that her hair tickles Maia’s arm. She presses a light kiss to Maia’s temple. “Unless you want to be alone.”

Maia shakes her head at that. “I want you to stay with me,” she says, and wonders if Izzy knows she’s not just talking about right now.

Izzy strokes her thumb along Maia’s cheekbone.  “It’s a good thing I don’t scare off easy, then,” she says with a smile. “I’ve seen worse than a virus.”

Maia isn’t surprised. They always tell each other about their respective days over dinner dates, and Izzy seems to have no qualms discussing the dead bodies she examines and dissects with cheery enthusiasm. Maia likes to think she’s battle-hardened and not even remotely close to squeamish, but Izzy takes it to another level.

“I guess I should have known years of eating at the Jade Wolf would come back to bite me in the ass,” Maia says, chuckling weakly.

Izzy hums sympathetically, though her lips twitch into a brighter smile. After a moment, her hand falls from Maia’s face; Izzy’s clearly thinking as she chews on her bottom lip.

“When did you last eat? I’ll cook you something,” she offers, standing up from where she’s perched on Maia’s bed. “Some chicken soup?”

Maia opens and closes her mouth. Her eyes dart to the side.

“You don’t have to do that,” she says. Izzy looks like she’s about to protest, so Maia hastily adds, “I’d much rather you stayed here and cuddled me. Girlfriend duties, you know?”

Izzy’s face softens and she tilts her head. 

“Move over, then,” she says, and Maia shuffles over to make room for Izzy to curl under the covers with her.

Magnus can’t help tilting his head up just slightly for a kiss, one freely, lovingly given.

When they break apart, Magnus hums. “Not all of us can pull off fingerless leather gloves like you can, Alexander.”

The look Alec gives him is full of incredulous disbelief. “There is nothing you couldn’t pull off.”

Magnus can’t help preening a little at the compliment. He plays it off by prodding nonchalantly at his hair, though he squeezes Alec’s hand more tightly.

“Fine,” he concedes graciously. “But you know what they say: cold hands, warm heart.”

Alec’s expression melts into a fond smile. “You do have a warm heart.” Then his face sort of scrunches up adorably, and he continues, “Maybe that came out weird. What I mean is, you have a kind heart. You’re one of the best people I know.”

Magnus can’t help smiling at that, pleased and touched. It’s not always been easy, after centuries of struggling with acceptance, but Magnus is proud of himself, and he knows his own worth. He knows what he means to the Downworld and the children he adopts, but sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone tell him. Especially when they mean it with the sincerity Alec does.

“Thank you,” Magnus says quietly, smiling at Alec. Alec smiles right back at him. Magnus stops the pair of them in the street, smoothing his hands over the front of Alec’s coat. He splays his palm against where Alec’s heart is. “That means a lot to me, coming from you.”

Alec ducks his head to kiss Magnus, a slow, gentle press of his lips against Magnus’. His breath is warm against Magnus’ skin and Magnus loses himself in it, never wanting to let the moment go.

“I have more compliments to give you, if you want,” Alec whispers, grinning lopsidedly when they pull back. Magnus laughs delightedly, falling back into step beside his boyfriend. There’s a pause, and then Alec tugs on his hand, still smiling. “I’m serious.”

“Oh.” Magnus bites his lip to hide his smile, though it’s entirely unsuccessful. “Well, late night stroll through the city. When’s a better chance for you to tell me?”

After that, Alec began spending more time in the loft when Magnus wasn’t there. Magnus didn’t consciously arrange it like that, but the feeling of knowing he had someone to go home to was just so lovely. True to form, he’d just portalled back from a meeting in Barcelona and was greeted with the sight of Alec flitting around the kitchen like it was his own, finding everything with startling familiarity.

“Hello, Alexander,” Magnus said, slipping his scarf off and walking over to kiss Alec. Alec smiled and caught him around the waist.

“Hey, love. I made dinner,” Alec said. Magnus’ gaze fell to the empty takeout cartons stacked on the counter and he sent Alec a look of amusement, at which he offered a sheepish grin and amended, with a shrug, “I ordered in.”

Magnus glanced at him, his fondness and love for the man in front of him stealing his breath.

“Move in with me,” he said, mostly without meaning to, and his eyes went wide as soon as he heard himself. He was usually much smoother, more eloquent, but something about Alec made him feel flustered and like he was in love for the first time.

“Move in with you?” Alec asked, looking a little stunned.

Magnus sort of shrugged and half laughed. “I mean, you spend all your time here anyway,” he explained, not trying to take away from just how much he wanted this to be their space, officially, but instinctively deflecting where his heart was bared on his sleeve.

He fiddled with the rings on his left hand and continued, “How about you take some time to think about it? I’ll still be here when you’re ready. If you’re ever ready — I don’t want to assume —”

“I’m ready right now,” Alec interrupted, looking less surprised and more — well, totally, hopelessly in love. “Yes. Are you sure?”

They’ve been playing doctors for most of the morning, Magnus and Alec taking it in turns to be the patient. Alec would be lying if he said they hadn’t been trying to outdo each other by suffering from the worst injury.

Alec shifts, snuggling closer against his boyfriend.

“Thank you for your help, Doctor,” he says, reaching out to tickle Madzie’s tummy.

She gives him an unimpressed look. “You’re asleep,” she reminds him, and Alec shuts his eyes immediately, prompting another laugh from Magnus.

“You have to kiss him to wake him up,” Madzie says to Magnus. Alec feels Magnus freeze, his hand going still in Alec’s hair. “True love’s kiss,” Madzie says, when Magnus still hasn’t said anything.

Alec sits up and clears his throat.

“Hey,” he says, nudging Madzie, “there are cookies in the kitchen. Why don’t you go and get them for us?”

Madzie opens her mouth to protest but Alec just tips his head gently to the kitchen. Her gaze flickers to Magnus and she nods, leaving the pair of them alone for a minute.

Alec holds Magnus’ face in his hands, searching his expression worriedly. “You okay?”

Magnus seems to have relaxed more now and nods, one hand coming to rest on Alec’s bicep.

“Lost in memories for a moment,” Magnus says dismissively. Alec frowns slightly and Magnus sighs. “When you tried to track Jace through the Adamas stone, I thought that…” he trails off. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

“You thought you could wake me up with a kiss,” Alec says, and Magnus’ expression falters.

He glances down, shaking his head. “I was…desperate. I’d tried everything.” He smiles ruefully. “It didn’t work.”

Alec lets out a soft chuckle. “Magnus,” he says, heart full to bursting with love, “if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Magnus hums, but at least he’s looking at Alec now.

“I love you so much,” Alec says, “and I don’t know how to thank you for trying so hard to save me.”

The corner of Magnus’ mouth tips up. Alec isn’t entirely convinced Magnus feels any better, but he doesn’t blame him. If their positions had been reversed, any reminder of the event would make Alec pause for breath, too.

“For the record,” Alec says, and Magnus catches the shift in mood immediately, his eyebrows rising in interest, “if I had to pick a handsome prince, it would definitely be you.”

Magnus smiles properly at that, teasing and pleased and the tiniest bit self-conscious at the edges.

“Yeah?” he asks, lips ghosting against Alec’s.

“100%,” Alec says without hesitation. “It’s always you, Magnus.”

Magnus’ eyes shine as his smile broadens, and then he’s pulling Alec into a tight hug. He turns his head to press kisses against Alec’s neck and his breath tickles Alec’s skin when he speaks.

A smile like the sun spreads across Alec’s face at the term of endearment. “Yeah, good. That patrol yesterday wiped me out.”

Magnus hums, returning to his news article as Alec pours himself coffee from the french press on the counter. Magnus feels Alec’s eyes on him and looks up, finding Alec squinting at him.

Magnus raises an eyebrow, an unspoken question, and puts his phone down. Alec sets his mug aside and crosses to Magnus’ side of the counter, hand reaching up. He runs a thumb over the shell of Magnus’ ear, then kisses his hair, just above it.

“I like this,” he says, the smile evident in his voice.

Magnus lifts a hand to brush his finger over the arrow ear cuff he’s wearing.

“It reminded me of you,” he says, smiling at the thought. He tips his head up for a kiss and Alec smiles before pressing his lips to Magnus’. Alec’s hands trail lightly through Magnus’ hair, down his neck, settling on his shoulders as he kisses him, languid and slow.

“Love you,” Alec murmurs.

Magnus smiles and pulls him back in for another kiss. “Love you, too,” he says. Alec kisses him once more, then again, like he just can’t help himself, before moving away and taking a seat opposite Magnus.

“D’you reckon I could pull off an ear cuff?” Alec asks, sipping his coffee thoughtfully. It’s clear from his tone he’s only teasing, but something pleasant blossoms inside Magnus’ chest anyway.

“I’d say a ring’s more your style,” Magnus says, then quirks a brow at Alec. “You seem to like stealing mine, anyway.”

Alec makes a face into his coffee, badly hiding a smile. “I didn’t think you’d noticed,” he says, and they both know it’s a lie.

Magnus smiles, regarding Alec with so much fondness he thinks it might all come spilling out. Alec watches him back, smiling and sipping his coffee.

With a snap of his fingers, Magnus makes a thin brushed pewter ring appear on the counter in front of Alec. Alec picks it up with a look of touched surprise, and turns it over with gentle fingers, finding the small pentagram inscribed on one side.

“I can change the design, if you want something different,” Magnus asks as the seconds tick by. Alec still hasn’t said anything, just looking at the ring, and doubt starts to whisper at the back of Magnus’ mind.

Alec immediately shakes his head and slides the ring onto the middle finger of his right hand.

Nobody paid him much mind as he passed through the Ops Centre, with the exception of Isabelle, who waved at him and smiled brightly. As usual, when Magnus knocked on the door to Alec’s office, Alec had his nose buried in paperwork.

“Come in,” he called, and the weary concentration on his face melted away into joyfulness when he caught sight of Magnus.

“I come bearing gifts,” Magnus said, smiling as he wandered into the room.

Alec sighed, relieved, and pushed his chair back from his desk. He stretched his long legs out and beckoned Magnus over.

“You’re a life saver.” His dramatic tone was belied by the twitch of his lips, but Magnus was never one to be outdone, and held the file just out of Alec’s reach.

“Ah, close your eyes and hold out your hands,” he said, grinning. Alec laughed properly this time, rolling his eyes.

“Magnus,” he groused, but it was far too affectionate to be irritated.

Magnus sent him a look. “Alexander.”

Alec sighed deeply, but he was still smiling as he let his eyes drop closed and held out his hands. Magnus watched him for a moment, enamoured, and then snapped his fingers to conjure a red rose. He stepped around the desk, placing the file down as he went past, and laid the flower across Alec’s upturned palms.

“For you,” he said, kissing Alec’s cheek.

Alec blinked his eyes open and Magnus was privy to the beautiful flush that stole across his cheeks when he looked at the rose. His lips curved upwards, his smile boyish and pleased.

Alec opened his mouth to say something, but whatever it was dissolved into another smile. He stroked the rose petals carefully with his thumb, then glanced up at Magnus. Alec gently placed the flower on his desk and then hooked an arm around Magnus’ waist, tugging him nearer.

Magnus obliged the unspoken request and dipped his head to kiss Alec, who sighed contentedly and splayed his hands over Magnus’ lower back.

When they broke apart, Alec was gazing lovingly at him. Magnus barely had time to snap his fingers to conjure a vase before he was being kissed again, leisurely and languidly, like Alec had all the time in the world and would devote it only to kissing Magnus.

Magnus’ heart tripped up in the wake of his thoughts and he pulled away from Alec to rest their foreheads together. Alec’s breath ghosted over Magnus’ lips, his thumbs stroking soft circles against Magnus’ back.