Damn-it...I knew this was going to happen. But this is it, I tell you.
Alec breathed in deeply, that sweet, clinging scent tickling his nose.
He turned his head, and the soft ends of Magnus's hair brushed his cheek. It was strange, seeing it down, much less feeling it against his face, but he hadn't gone back on his request. Or his opinion. He liked it much better this way. He reached out his hand and passed his fingertips lightly through the last couple inches or so, just to feel it. And if his hand incidentally grazed his throat in the process, well…that wasn't his original intention.
Magnus lip twitched.
He knew he wasn't sleeping. Alec snickered, watching Magnus's eyes open, warm and alert.
"Still here?" he teased, lifting his arm lazily from the couch to cover Alec's hand, trapping it there. Slowly, he linked their fingers together.
"Do you want me to go…?"
"Of course not," Magnus replied, closing his eyes again briefly. He stretched out while still lying on his side. Well, he attempted to. The average-sized couch wasn't quite long enough to accommodate his inordinate height. But several bones popped, and he seemed satisfied with the release of tension.
"You could stay," he pointed out, watching Alec again through heavy lids.
Alec shook his head, sitting up a little more on his elbow. "It'll cause more problems than it's worth." Damn. He hadn't meant it to sound quite like it came out.
But Magnus forgave him with another soft smile. "Then you'll just have to come back tomorrow."
"Magnus…" he let out his breath slowly. He didn't know how to answer him.
They'd never had any kind of routine, or continuity to the visits. They hadn't known each other long enough to set up anything formal like that. This was only the third time he'd come to the warlock's door, and only once was it planned. While he enjoyed the invitation, and…if he was honest with himself, he wanted to come as soon as possible, he couldn't commit to anything definite. He had no way of knowing what would happen tomorrow night, or where he would be.
"I understand," Magnus interrupted his thoughts, generously relieving him of having to explain. He gave Alec's hand a light squeeze, then released it, rubbing his eyelids with his thumb and pointer.
"I hope you do," Alec replied, with an apologetic smile.
Magnus sighed dramatically. "I'll just have to pine away the hours writing bad poetry and updating my blog."
"Your…what?"
Magnus laughed, rubbing his knee. "Never mind." He sat up with his back against the couch, watching him. Alec stared back. The seconds passed and Alec sensed what was supposed to happen. So he initiated it before Magnus could.
He kissed the warlock. It was nothing near as intense as the previous kisses, which had turned into nuzzling and feverish petting, and what would probably be imprints of nails along his back, beneath the coarse sweater. He also had a strong suspicion there was another telltale mark on his neck. His face burned at the memory, and he broke from Magnus's mouth abruptly, ducking his head.
"Alec? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're blushing," Magnus pointed out the obvious, and Alec lifted his head to glare. "I thought we were beyond that point?"
"Me too," Alec agreed with a self-conscious smile.
"We've made a lot of progress for one night," Magnus mused, tapping the very spot with his fingertips. Alec flinched.
"I don't know how I'm going to explain it," he muttered under his breath.
"It'll go away before you know it. Unless you think it'll cause a problem?" he considered, regarding Alec more seriously. "Do you want me to--"
Alec cut him off before he could offer to heal him. "No, it's fine. Maybe no one will notice. It's not like they really look close at me anyway."
"Uh huh."
"What?"
"Nothing," Magnus replied, looking at him out of the corner of his eyes before shifting to lie back down on the couch, arms crossed behind his head.
Alec frowned at him, but got up slowly, stretching out once he was standing. Then he looked around for his jacket.
"On the chair," Magnus provided, watching him lazily.
"Thanks." He reached for the rumpled jacket and shrugged into it. Absently, he fingered the side of his belt and his back pocket, checking for the small dagger and his stele. He could feel the light weight of his cell inside the breast of his coat. Everything accounted for.
"Not short a weapon?" Magnus inquired, amused - watching his careful pat down.
"I'm good."
"Too bad," he sighed. "Then you would've had to come right back."
"I will come back, Magnus," he promised, not sure if he was looking for reassurance. But it felt nice to give it - and to acknowledge that Magnus wanted him to return, and soon.
"Well, you'll have to keep your phone charged, because if you don't show up at my door soon, I'm going to start harrassing your voice mail."
"Isn't that a little desperate?" he laughed.
Magnus shrugged, though smiling. "I would have said greedy."
Alec smiled back at him and turned to leave. He walked over to the front door, watching his feet, vision a little blurry. What time was it? It had to be late.
There was movement behind him, and then Magnus was at his side, arms snaking around him forcibly. "Wait a minute."
"Magnus..."
"I just want to give you something, OK? Just wait right here."
"OK," he agreed, watching the warlock over his shoulder. Magnus jogged to his bedroom. He heard the cat meowing for his attention. Clothing hangers scraped against metal. He cringed, hoping he wasn't trying to pass off another shirt. Or worse.
But when Magnus returned, he had one hand closed, offering it to him. Alec looked down at his hand and back up at his face. A small cold object was pressed into his palm.
"My key," Magnus pointed out, as if it needed explanation.
"Are you sure?"
"I have copies," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm not sure where most of them went, but you'll probably keep up with this one better than I will."
When Alec didn't respond, Mangus kissed him quickly, gripping the back of his neck. "So you can come by whenever you want. And you can surprise me."
Alec slid the key inside his jacket, resting it against his cell. "Thanks."
Magnus smiled, not dissuaded by the underwhelming response. He nudged the shadowhunter's nose, nuzzling.
"I've got to go," Alec breathed against him, though his lashes had fallen. Magnus left tickling butterfly kisses across his cheeks, caressing the back of his neck.
"I know," he murmured, kissing him once more. Reluctant.
With some effort, he slid out of his warm embrace and turned, unlocking the door and stepping out into the stairwell.
He could feel Magnus's eyes silently watching him as he descended. He thought about turning back and tossing him a smile, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to see the expression on his face. So he drew his jacket closer before stepping out into the cooler evening air, the ridged end of the key poking against his chest.