Magnus chewed his lip, inexplicably nervous as he heard his phone beep, signaling a text.

Alec: Sorry. I got distracted. What did you want to ask?

Magnus smiled at it the way he couldn't help but smile around anything that had to do with Alec these days. It was a feeling that was equally enticing and worrying, particularly worrying to Ragnor who had a strong belief that monogamy was the work of the devil or something of the like.

"Texing Wonder Boy?" Ragnor asked as he walked into the living room, taking a seat beside Magnus who was on the couch watching a Project Runway marathon.

Well, it was more like background noise now though as all of his focus was on texting Alec.

Magnus: It's about our date on Saturday. . .

Even Magnus had to admit now he was being a bit of a tease, wanting Alec to work for the question. It was just a part of his personality, contrasting to Alec's straight forward ways, Magnus was much more likely to tease or beat around the bush- he found it much more fun that way.

He looked up to Ragnor. "Wonder boy?"

Ragnor nodded with a smirk as he grabbed the remote and changed the channel.

"Yes, Wonder Boy. He's a soccer star, filthy rich, goes to one of the top schools in the state, easy on the eyes, and somehow has the patience to deal with you. It fits, don't you think?"

Magnus just shook his head, not even bothering to respond. Ragnor just said insane things like this sometimes and Magnus simply went with it. He found it rather entertaining honestly.

"So what are you two love birds talking about?"

Magnus looked up from his phone and gave his friend a hard look.

"What?" Ragnor asked incredulously.

"You're just asking about my love life. You've never done that."

Ragnor shrugged, "I like to try new things. You're avoiding the question. What are you two talking about? Don't tell me you're already breaking the poor lad's heart."

Magnus snorted. "No, we're talking about our date on Saturday. Well, sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Yes, sort of," Magnus replied; now back to texting Alec as his phone went off again.

Alec: Is everything alright?

Magnus chuckled at the response. Of course sweet, self-conscious Alec's first thought would be something was wrong and that Magnus wasn't just asking a simple question. He could even picture Alec's face right now, those deep blue eyes darkening with confusion, his eyebrows burrowed and he was likely unconsciously gnawing on his lower lip just waiting for Magnus to text him back.

Magnus was unaware of the hard glare Ragnor was giving him until Ragnor cleared his throat and his attention was back on his roommate.

"Yes?" Magnus asked.

"How do you sort of talk about something?"

Magnus gave Ragnor a stern look. His friend never asked about his dating life, well except for the one instance Ragnor was surprised to find Magnus in a compromising situation with a girl and learned he was indeed bisexual. Other than that, Ragnor avoided relationship discussions of any kind with Magnus.

"Back to my earlier question, you have never cared about my love life and now you do. Why?"

"Well to be fair you've never technically had a love life. It was more like a sex life in my opinion, and why the hell would I ask about that? This, Alec kid-"

"I really wish you would stop calling him a kid. He's eighteen which makes him a legal adult."

"He's a kid in my eyes."

"You're what a whole three years older?"

"Four and it doesn't matter, so stop interrupting me."

Magnus rolled his eyes but motioned for his friend to continue.

"I just think you ought to be careful is all," Ragnor slowly explained.

Magnus raised his eyebrows. He had never been one to be careful and neither had Ragnor, it was one of the many things that aided in their strong friendship.

"Be . . . careful?"

"Well, it's just . . . yeah. You seem to really like this ki- Alec. But he's a closeted high school student with a college scholarship in a whole other state. Not long term relationship material and I know you Magnus, and I know you're a live in the now kind of guy . . . but just . . . be careful."

Magnus stared at his friend for a long time, as if trying to discern whether or not Ragnor was serious. The two had been close friends for years and roommates for months now, and they had never even come close to discussing their feelings. At one point, Magnus thought Ragnor was simply incapable of any emotion at all as the man could swiftly cut ties with just about anyone and act as if nothing had even happened the next day- even cutting his own parents out of his life for some reason Magnus didn't know. It was part of the reason Ragnor lived with Magnus instead of a family member.

"Well, are you just going to say something or just sit there and stare?"

Magnus smirked. The moment was clearly over now as Ragnor huffed and turned back to watching TV.

"Thanks Ragnor, really, it's nice to know you care."

Ragnor looked back to Magnus, his lip twitching.

"I never said I cared, I just told you to be careful. This type of romantic roller coaster stuff could really interfere with my precious nap schedule, you know if you're the crying type, and I'm just looking out for numero uno."

"Numero uno is you I'm assuming?"

"You'd be correct in that assumption."

"So, would I also be correct in assuming I am numero dos in your life, being the provider of this roof over your head seems a legitimate reason for me to be there."

Ragnor snorted. "Yeah, you can be numero dos."

There was silence, as Ragnor turned his head to face Magnus again.

"I did mean that stuff Magnus, you're my best friend and I may or may not care about what happens to you- so don't go pulling any Romeo and Juliet shit, alright?"

Magnus blinked, once again surprised by his friend's kind words.

"I'll be fine, dear friend."

Ragnor stared at Magnus a moment longer, before nodding his head and patting Magnus on the shoulder.

"Well alright then."

"So do we kiss now?"

Ragnor nearly leapt out of his skin, "What?"

"I assumed this was a subtle way of hitting on me. You're jealous of Alec, hence the speech and that ridiculous nickname."

"I was not hitting on you! I was looking out for you, and what do you mean ridiculous nickname? Wonder Boy is hilarious and accurate."

Magnus snorted, "So . . . no hot and steamy kiss? I was hoping for the cliché guy in love with his best friend type of story. No dice?"

Ragnor huffed and turned the TV off, slamming the remote down as he did so. He stomped off to his room muttering curse words under his breath as Magnus laughed out loud.

"Last time I try and look out for you, you ass!" Ragnor shouted before slamming his door.

Still laughing, Magnus grabbed his phone as it beeped.

Alec: Magnus?

Magnus smiled, mentally kicking himself for forgetting to text Alec back, but still loving how worried he seemed.

Magnus: I was wondering if I could plan an actual date. Like, leave my apartment date.

Magnus waited. No text back. He wondered if Alec was going to make up some excuse for why they couldn't go out, even though Magnus would know the truth. Not wanting to put too much pressure on the boy, Magnus hastily texted him again.

Magnus: I promise we won't run into anyone you know.

It was another few moments before Magnus' heard his phone beep again, and he was a bit afraid to read the response. Magnus wasn't used to rejection, and while he wouldn't take it personally he was reminded of the night after Alec's soccer game and when Alec looked around to see if anyone could see them together. Magnus had had people be ashamed of him once, his own parents, and he didn't need to deal with that again. No matter how attractive said ashamed person may be.

Alec: Yeah. That'd be fine.

Magnus couldn't help but smile the rest of the day.

Err, I'm not too happy with this chapter. I wanted to show Magnus and Ragnor and how Magnus has someone in his corner, like Alec has Isabelle but then it ended up being awkward because I always sensed that Magnus was sort of closed off and not big on stuff like this except around Alec. So, to make up for this horrible chapter, snippets from their upcoming date! It'll be much longer and sweeter.

"Can you check that for me darling?" Magnus asked his hands full.

Magnus jutted his hip out, the phone lighting up in his pants pocket. Alec paused briefly, not sure how to grab the phone without grabbing something else, and not at all comfortable reading Magnus' texts.

"It's alright darling, I don't bite." Magnus teased with a wink.

Alec's face warmed but he quickly grabbed the phone, opening it to see a new text from a Tessa Gray.

"Who's it?" Magnus asked,

"Um, it's a text from someone named Tessa."

Magnus seemed to light up just hearing her name and Alec felt a twinge of jealousy.

00000

Alec forced his lips to Magnus's, hoping the kiss would say everything he couldn't explain with words. He found himself stumbling forward, pressing Magnus against a wall and humming into the kiss a little bit before he pulled away. Magnus's eyes were shining and they were both breathing deeply.

"I want to stay the night." Alec huffed, his voice raspy.

Magnus looked at him with surprise, "Alec are you su-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as Alec kissed him again, this time soft and sweet. Alec pulled back again too soon for Magnus's taste, and his pale hands snuck under Magnus's shirt.

Magnus let out a surprised gasp, and their eyes met, shocked golden green eyes meeting mischievous blue ones, "I'm positive."