When Alec woke the next morning, he felt like he'd been attacked by a group of Raum Demons. Or hit by a bus. Or something. His sore muscles protested angrily as he sat up in bed. He hobbled into the kitchen and sat gingerly at the table. "Magnus," he groaned, "are you as stiff as I am?"
Magnus opened his mouth to respond, thought better of it, and remained silent. Alec looked over at him, saw him trying to suppress his laughter, and reflected back on what he'd said.
Oh. Alec colored. "For goodness sake! You know exactly what I meant!"
"Oh, do I?"
Alec put his head in his hands. "Unbelievable."
Magnus placed a plate with an oversized cinnamon roll in front of Alec and kissed the top of his head. "Sometimes, but you wouldn't have me any other way."
Alec looked up and scowled. "That's debatable."
"Nonsense." Alec shrugged and started in on his breakfast. Magnus served himself and sat across from Alec. "In answer to your question, yes, admittedly, I am a little sore. I'm surprised at you though. Your big bad Shadowhunter muscles couldn't take a day of skiing?"
Alec finished his food and pushed the plate away. "I'd never done it before. My body wasn't used to it."
"That's what they all say."
For the second time that morning, Alec blushed bright red. "Is everything I say an innuendo to you?"
Magnus laughed. "No, but your reactions are so adorable that I can't help myself. Besides, it's not my fault if your mind is in the gutter."
"My mind? You're the one who keeps—"
"Okay, okay, relax. It's all in good humor."
"Whatever." Alec stood to put the dishes in the sink.
"I'm thinking of trying out the hot tub today."
Alec looked out the kitchen window. "It's snowing outside."
"Barely. It'll stop soon enough. You should join me."
"I don't have a swimsuit."
"You don't need one."
Alec turned around. "You don't mean…" he watched as Magnus smirked. "But that's—"
"Alexander, it's a private Jacuzzi."
"But what if someone—"
"Nobody is going to see anything. Except for me."
"I just…"
"If you don't want to, that's perfectly fine. It was just a suggestion." The kettle on the stove started whistling, and Magnus stood to remove it from the heat. Alec watched as he poured the water into a teapot. "Do you want some tea?"
"Maybe later." Alec walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. He flopped onto the couch and glared up at the moose head mounted on the wall. It seemed a strange thing to do, making trophies out of your prey. He certainly didn't want any demons mounted on the walls of the Institute.
Alec shuddered and got off the couch to do some stretches. He gave up after a bit and ended up lying on the floor. Magnus walked into the room and knelt down beside him. Alec heard the clunk of a cup being set on the floor and he opened his eyes and sat up, grimacing as his muscles resisted the movement.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot his morning."
Alec shook his head. "Really, it's okay. I'm just—"
"Overly sensitive about a few things, I know. You'll have to forgive me for poking fun sometimes."
"I told you, it's fine."
Magnus smiled. "And one other thing. I forgot to give you a proper good morning." He leaned forward and gave Alec a kiss that had him almost forgetting his sore muscles. Magnus chuckled and broke away. "The tea is ready and in the kitchen. I'll be outside if you need me." Picking up his cup, he left the room.
Alec stood and made his way back to the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of tea and sipped at it as he walked around the condo, exploring the various rooms, opening drawers and cabinets, leafing through various books and magazines. He made his way back to the master bedroom and brushed his teeth.
He squinted at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was a mess from yesterday. His nose and cheeks were a little red from the snow glare. Otherwise, Alec supposed that he looked okay.
He grabbed an oversized towel and bit his lip, thinking. Magnus had seen him naked before. A few times, actually, and while it was embarrassing, it was something that he'd accepted.
Alec walked into the room and lay down on the bed. Sure, he was shy, but that wasn't what was bothering him. What he'd just realized is that he'd never seen Magnus naked, and something told him that the warlock hadn't conjured up a pair of swim trunks for himself.
Sure, they'd fooled around a bit, but Magnus always seemed to have the upper hand in those situations, and Alec had always been too…distracted…to care about why he was the only one completely undressed.
Alec shook his head. Here he was, being a wuss as always. Alec bet that if Isabelle could see him now, she'd have plenty to say on the matter.
He looked over at the towel, folded and sitting on the bathroom counter.
He would go.
