AN: For whatever reason, Magnus is still a warlock whilst Alec is doing mundane things like swimming competitions. I hadn't realised how ridiculous it seemed until I was almost finished, so I apologise for the randomness. Enjoy! (and no, I don't own anything other than the plot)
Normally, Alec was perfectly willing to excuse Magnus's absence at his swimming events, competitions, nationals or even just as someone to keep him company whilst he trained. He put it down to Magnus being too much like a cat and not liking water, which didn't make it okay, but it made it slightly more … excusable, perhaps. It was better than thinking of the alternative, which Alec already knew, but it still wasn't a nice thought to think of whenever he dipped into the water. That Magnus hates the water because of the incident with his father; but Magnus had reassured him countless times that it isn't that, darling, and Alec had accepted that all that was left of the murder attempt on Magnus' young self, was simply a small uneasiness around water. At least, that's what Magnus says, and Alec knows it's hard to get the guy to delve deeper into the particularly painful or well-locked caverns of his memories. So Alec doesn't mind so much when Magnus can't come to his swimming competitions at local events, or help him and encourage him alongside the pool when he's training for something bigger.
But this time, Alec wants Magnus to make an exception. It's the championships and he's made it to the finals. People think he can win, and he wants to think he can, but he'd really like Magnus alongside the others, on the stands, watching encouragingly as Alec reaches for first place. It's all planned out in filmic-fashion in his head, and he doesn't see why Magnus can't make an exception for this one, just this once. Alec thinks he might be pushing things a bit, maybe he's being too demanding, but then again, Magnus has already had about 700 years to get over his fear. And Alec feels incredibly guilty whenever he thinks this.
But on the other hand, maybe its more on side with psychological scarring, not just a general phobia…
Alec didn't know. He was frustrated with himself and Magnus at any rate and Magnus was insisting he was A-ok. That he didn't have a phobia any more and it was just a sort of uneasiness he got around water – but he was ok. Alec wished Magnus would stop pretending he's ok because if he was, he would have come to the small events around town, or the small and bigger competitions he'd been placed in. Alec needs to know what he can do to help, if anything, and Magnus just wont talk to him about it.
So in preparation for Magnus's reaction, whatever that would be, Alec told his boyfriend about the swimming championships a whole three months before the actual date. As soon as Alec knew, a week or so later, Magnus knew too. Alec left it a week so that he could come up with a decent presentation, playing the right cards to win Magnus' vote. Which is where Alec's at now, nervously standing in the kitchen, drying the dinner plates while Magnus is watching him, curiously, as he casually begins his spiel on what the 'best ever present for all the occasions of the year' would be. Alec barely pauses for a breath, spilling all the cons first, then covering them up with the pro's and hoping Magnus will forget about the cons – which is ridiculous because Magnus hardly forgets anything – before resorting to pleading and bargaining. Which ends up leaning towards bribery, so Alec stops before he gets in too deep.
Magnus is still watching him, elbow propped elegantly on the marble kitchen surface, his navy-blue-glittered-fingernails dangerously close to his cat-like eyes. His face is slightly paler than its usual tanned shade, but Alec tries to convince himself it's the lighting.
"So…um, think about it" He finishes lamely, placing the last dinner plate in the cupboard and flipping the tea-towel onto the radiator to dry.
"Your ass shimmies in an unbelievably sexy way when you dry plates" Magnus gives Alec a flirty grin and it isn't reflected. Instead, Alec tries not to look like he's storming off, but really, he thinks he is. Magnus hadn't listened to a word he'd said. And if he had, he was brushing the topic away like it didn't matter. But it did matter. Alec wanted Magnus to watch his championships and possibly win first, second or third. Couple's were supposed to be supportive and Alec had been supportive of all Magnus' outrageous ideas, and even more so of Magnus' unwillingness to go near water, but just this one, just this once, he thought Magnus might make an exception.
000
Magnus notices Alec's annoyance instantly. He's an open book when it comes to emotions, and sometimes Magnus finds it too easy to make his boyfriend turn from one emotion to the other within a heartbeat. And it's always fun; going from anger to utter embarrassment, or from happy to horny. But that isn't why he dodges the boy's ultimate question. The real reason is that he is caught off guard. Magnus is sure that he hasn't succeeded in fooling Alec into thinking that the fear of deep water has been obliterated. He knows Alec will come up with some intellectual reason, like maybe the fear has gone but there is still some kind of psychological link. But that would be getting ahead a little bit, because that would mean the fear has lessened. And it hasn't. But he's spent so long convincing himself and Alec that it has, that he almost believes it.
He takes showers as a preference to baths; it's a personal choice, not one inflicted by a desperate need to stay away from deep water. So that doesn't bother him. Nobody goes swimming as vigorously as Alec does, and those that do, well, Magnus doesn't really care for. The odd times they do make a social call to the pool, Magnus can always come up with some arrangement at work that conveniently gets him out of it – it works very well. But it's Alec. And Alec needs him to do this, if only once. So Magnus spends the next two weeks thinking about it. Very carefully and at every bit of free time he can get; so far, there's no panic attacks or feelings of suffocation and no reoccurring nightmares. Magnus assumes he's ok and brings up the topic when Alec returns from one of his major swimming sessions on the Saturday night.
"…How big is it?" He asks carefully.
"Is what?" Alec chuckles and sets his bags down by the stairs. "A snake? Your…uhm…" A bashful blush and Magnus finds himself chuckling.
"The pool. That you'll be…swimming…in" Alec is silent for a moment, blinking carefully.
"The one at the championship arena; it's…Olympic sized" Magnus' eyes widen very slightly.
"I see" He breathes. "Depth?"
"Two metres" Alec says, biting his lip. "Minimum"
"Minimum?" Alec swears Magnus squeaks. "And how far are you…going?"
"Two hundred metres" Alec says cautiously. "There and back. Twice"
"And you'll be underwater?" Alec gives his boyfriend his 'are you stupid' face, but regrets it the moment Magnus recoils. "Nevermind, of course you will, you're swimming" He says flippantly, spinning around and heading to the kitchen.
"…" Alec wants to ask if that means Magnus has reached a decision; if he's going to come. But he doesn't want to push him over the edge, so he follows his boyfriend into the kitchen like a puppy. Alec reaches the sink and decides he wants a coffee. "Coffee?" He starts one up anyway, because he wants one, glancing at the sink bowl that's got leftover water in it. He sends a glare to Magnus, who doesn't seem to notice.
"Hm?" He says instead.
"Coffee?" Alec repeats, hooking his fingers over the edge of the sink tub and preparing to empty the water into the sink. He regrets it the moment that the water gushes out loudly and Magnus' chair scrapes back. He drops the tub back into the sink, water sloshing around whilst he spins to face a tense-looking Magnus. He'd never minded before… "Babe?" Alec whispers.
"Im going for a walk" He was gone in a whirl of black and glitter, so Alec rinsed the bowl in silence, drank his coffee with Chairman on his knee, all the while waiting for Magnus to come back.
000
It's another two weeks before it's brought up again, by neither parties voluntarily. Jace is enthusiastic about Alec's chances of winning, or at least getting placed, and has been helping to coach Alec along throughout the process. A month has passed since Alec has told Magnus about the Championship event and Jace wants to know what the verdict is. He is all too happy that all the Lighwoods will be there, Clary and Simon too of course, and Alec is rather offended that Jace instantly thinks that Magnus will obviously, without question, be attending too. Alec's silence proves enough of an answer, which eventually sends Jace driving Alec from the pool, half way through their training session, back to Magnus' apartment to scold the glitter-clad man. Alec cringes throughout the whole argument; Jace hasn't allowed Alec to explain Magnus' circumstances, or Magnus to explain his own circumstances, but Magnus does stand there in the corridor and takes it all like he usually does, waiting for the storm to blow over before making a surprise attack. But there isn't one.
Jace calls Magnus an unfair, unsupportive, totally disregarding and selfish twat, and Magnus says nothing to defend himself. Not even when Jace hauls Alec back to the pool for an intense stress-relieving session which he eventually joins in with. It's because of that outburst that, when Alec comes home, he comes baring gifts of glitter hairspray, Belgian chocolate and some high-branded cat-food for Chairman, because everyone knows that if Chairman is happy, Magnus can't be too far behind.
Magnus creeps up on Alec as he's dishing out the cat-food, appearing silently in the doorway looking as graceful and elegant as the cat that is lounged on the sofa.
"Alec?" Comes the quiet, inquisitive voice.
"Magnus!" Alec leaps up, surprised. Chairman doesn't seem too happy at having food flecked in his face, but comes to munch on the food nonetheless. "You snuck up on me" Alec smiles, rinses the can lightly (with Magnus watching like a hawk), and puts it in the recycling bin.
"I want you to try something with me…" Alec only smiles because of the 'suggestive' nature of the comment. Usually, 'trying something' means new…games… "I'm not being funny with you" Magnus folds his arms over his chest, and Alec realizes suddenly that Magnus is wearing a very grave face, one that almost has a sort of resignation to it. This could be it! "Are you done here?" Alec nods and Magnus holds out his hand, which Alec takes, and they head into the bathroom. It's in there that Alec smells the soft aroma of one or many of Magnus' scented candles and what faintly smells of bubble bath. But that would be ridiculous because— "Get in" Magnus instructs, locking the door behind them both and nodding to the steaming bath that is lightly topped with bubbles.
Alec undresses and gets into the bath, his embarrassment of changing in front of his boyfriend long since vanished. It still makes his ears burn when Magnus watches him as intently as he does, but still. It is a vast improvement. Alec sits himself down and swirls his palm lightly over the bubbles.
"It's perfect" He says, turning to Magnus. "The temperature I mean; well, I think the candles and the bubbles help" Magnus smiles just a little and unfolds his arms, that seemed to be keeping him wrapped up and safe from harm. He peels off his boots, then his socks, then takes off his over shirt. But stops there. Alec stops watching him undress, for fear of making him too nervous, and starts playing with the bubbles absently. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Magnus take his top off, then shimmy his trousers off and then his boxers. Butt-naked, he runs his fingers along the edge of the bath before gripping it, his knuckles white. "Want some help?" Alec whispers. He hopes Magnus knows he isn't forcing him; he just wants to help. Maybe distract him whilst he gets in so he doesn't notice it.
The other hand grips the side of the bath, slipping down as he tests the temperature. His hand shoots out before it's just past his wrist. For the first time, Alec see's a completely uncertain look in Magnus' eyes. Sort of like Max's first time at the pool. Alec stands up slowly, extending a hand to the nervously blinking man that's his boyfriend. "It's fine" Magnus takes Alec's hand, lifts a leg to place it in – but flails at the last minute. He shakes his hand free of Alec's grip and shakes his head back and forth just as wildly. "What can I do?" Alec says helplessly, desperately wanting to do something.
"Nothing" Magnus breathes, whipping up his clothes with a frown and unlocking the bathroom door. Within seconds, and a whisp of cool air, Alec is alone in the bathroom, wishing Magnus was sat opposite him. It's then he realizes that Magnus is admitting he's lied all this time about being OK with the water. By openly asking for Alec's 'help', and flipping out like he had, Magnus has abolished all 'Im ok's when concerning water' tales. Alec doesn't know whether to be happy, or mad. He settles for worried. He suddenly fears that it must be affecting Magnus so much deeper than he originally thought if he'd had to lie about it for the past few centuries.
000
It's suddenly a new week and Alec's training has become more frequent. He misses Magnus and finds himself imagining the glittery man sat in the stands when he's training, cheering him on. But of course, it's only in his mind, but it does encourage him to swim harder. He reaches a new personal best this week too, and he's sure it's because of Imaginary-Magnus. He comes home slightly earlier because of this; He sneaks into the apartment with the aim of surprising his hard-working boyfriend, but ends up nervously waiting in the corridor as he hears the conversation unravel with the feeling of intrusion in his stomach.
"…It's ridiculous Camille, it's – it's pathetic" Alec doesn't think he's ever heard Magnus say something so hate-filled. "I don't understand"
"It's only natural" Camille's voice sends shivers down his spine. Alec's always been wary of the connection between Camille and Magnus and he's only ever really tolerated her.
"It's not. It's not! I've had centuries to get over this, Camille" He says something else that Alec can't catch, but Alec imagines Magnus rolling his eyes and folding his arm over his chest. "All I have to do is sit there and be supportive. Watch him bob in and out, there and back, there and back and then bam!" Magnus hits something and Chairman suddenly darts out of the living room and into the corridor. Alec tries to shoo him away. "He'll win" Magnus says confidently. "Maybe I could just wear a blind fold and get ear plugs or something"
"Yes Magnus, you'll look fabulous wearing those" Alec bit back a laugh. "You want to get over this, for Alec's sake?"
"More than Gucci's new line" Magnus says solemnly. Alec shakes his head but grins to himself.
"Then get yourself in the bathtub with him. Start there. Get used to the water again and then maybe go with Alec to a few training sessions before the actual thing" Alec hears shuffling and decides Camille is leaving. He leaves Chairman Meow in the corridor and tip-toes back outside, closing the door quietly and just about jogging further down the road when Magnus lets Camille out. Alec doesn't miss the small peck on the cheek, but if her advice genuinely helps Magnus, he's willing to overlook it. He gives it five minutes before heading back into the house and having a Project Runway marathon and snuggles with Magnus for the rest of the night.