Magnus woke up to something tickling at his ear. It was mostly dark around him, the cabin of the plane only dimly lit by emergency lights. The hum of the engines and the slight shuffling of people trying to get comfy in their seats was the only noise around.

He'd fallen asleep with his head at an angle but his neck didn't feel as stiff as it normally did when he made this mistake on planes. And there was that tickle at his ear again. He raised his hand to swat at whatever it was, only to be confronted by something warm and very much solid. Magnus blinked a few times taking in his surroundings. The something solid moved slightly, causing him to jump a bit. It took a few moments for his brain to fully process the situation before he realised that at some point in the flight he had accidentally cuddled up to Alec. He slowly extricated himself, trying to keep his movements smooth to avoid waking his colleague.

As he sat up fully, Alec made a cute little snoring noise that almost had Magnus cooing. Checking to ensure he hadn't actually woken up, Magnus shuffled to put as much space between them as the narrow seats would allow. Looking at his watch, there were only about 20 minutes until they were due to land. He stretched his legs out in front of him, pulled his book out from the bag under his seat and, flicking on the light above his seat, settled in to read. In reality, his eyes never moved from where they stared unfocused at the page. His brain was buzzing manically, flicking back and forth between thoughts of the man sleeping next to him and the prospect of the next few weeks. Would they find the treasure or not? Was this trip an entirely wasted venture? Magnus wasn't sure about anything.

The cabin lights soon turned on and a voice came over the Tannoy announcing their arrival. Next to him, Alec let out an adorable, soft little moan as he shuffled himself awake. Magnus observed the soft lines of his face and the stubble decorating his jaw. His eyes were still half-closed, just a hint of that delicious hazel peeking through but still enough to make Magnus' heart melt. Alec ran a hand through his messy hair, mussing it even further and sheepishly met Magnus' eyes.

"Morning," his voice was slightly hoarse from sleeping in the dry air of the cabin. "I hope I didn't snore too loudly or do anything embarrassing in my sleep."

"I'm sure you were the perfect gentleman, but I too was asleep." Magnus diplomatically chose not to mention how he'd woken up, it would only complicate things should Alec get wind of his attraction.

They lapsed into silence, both pointedly avoiding the other's gaze as the plane continued it's descent.

They made it through their connection in Miami with relative ease and were soon on a small plane heading for Nassau. Magnus was able to keep the conversation on professional terms, hearing more about Alec's research and the things he'd accomplished over the last several years. He filled Alec in on the various exhibitions he'd organised in his role as a museum curator. The conversation eventually drifted back to the journey they were currently embarking on.

"So you still haven't told me how you found the treasure."

"Because I haven't found it… yet," Magnus winked. "In all seriousness though, it was pretty dry. I'd been invited to curate a specialized exhibition on the life of Raziel. At the opening of the exhibition, my friend Catarina introduced me to another specialist in the field, Lorenzo Rey."

"I've heard of him," Alec said, unable to contain his wince.

"Yes, quite." Magnus agreed, amused that Lorenzo's reputation had reached Alec. "He's a slimy, arrogant, lizard of a man. But he also has access to the archives of the New York Institute. It took a couple of martinis and more ass-kissing than I care to admit, but I scored an invitation to peruse the information in the private collections contained at the Institute."

Alec whistled quietly, his eyebrows raised slightly in a look of genuine surprise and respect. The New York Institute was one of the foremost historical archives in the world, its collections spanning millennia and the knowledge held within it comparable with the likes of the Smithsonian or the British Museum. Unlike those libraries, the Institute was an entirely private collection, not shared with the public. Alec had never met anyone who'd been invited to peruse their artefacts before!

"Wow Magnus, that's every historian's dream. It'd be like every Christmas come at once to get to explore their archives like that."

"Yes, well, it came at the cost of spending time with Rey so… I'll let you decide if that's a price worth paying."

Alec merely snorted at the insinuation before allowing Magnus to continue explaining how within the collections he had found references to several star charts and also missing pages from Raziel's ship's logs. Magnus had taken copies of all the documents and over the course of several months pieced together the location.

"But if Raziel's star charts didn't have the North Star then how can you be sure of the location of the treasure?"

"Raziel's charts were instead based around a series of constellations. It was a bit more work, but I pieced together what he referred to on his charts to their modern-day equivalences and was able to calculate the destination of his final voyage - at least according to the ship's log."

"But how do you know you've found the correct island in that case?" Alec's eyebrows were knitted together in concern. If the expression on his face was anything to go by he was clearly thinking that this would be an entirely wasted trip.

"Never fear Alexander, while my calculations may have some errors in them, I also cross-checked them with colleagues more specialised in cartography and astronomy. Not to mention that the charts indicate an island so isolated that there isn't another landmass for 150 miles. I may not be a specialist in these things, but I refuse to accept that my calculations are more than a degree or two out in either direction. I'm confident."

Alec merely hummed at him, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

"Look, if I'm wrong the worst that happens is I've wasted a lot of my late father's money dragging a group of people I quite like halfway around the world to enjoy some Caribbean sunshine. Is that such an issue?"

"Well, the damage to your ego and the crushing disappointment that you've not achieved your life's dream might be an issue?" Alec's tone was light and teasing, but his eyes were darting around Magnus' face, concern evident in the set of his lips.

Magnus chuckled, "Well if my critics in the industry are to be believed, my ego could use a bit of deflating."

Alec's answering hum told Magnus that he had at least one stalwart supporter in historical circles.

After they'd landed in Nassau and paid for a taxi to take them from the airport to the docks, they finally met Simon & Maia.

"Professor Lightwood," Simon grinned at him, shucking a rucksack onto his shoulder so he could reach out to shake hands. "You look less tired already, not that you normally look tired but just, holiday mode suits you. You look relaxed, less stressed. Being out of the office is clearly good for you." He trailed off from his rambling as Alec folded his arms across his chest and shot the young man a glare.

"Now Sherwin, how many times have I told you that this isn't a holiday? We're here to work." Magnus scolded.

"You also talked a lot about rum and told me all the stories about dancing on the tables in Havana nightclubs, so that might have somewhat diluted the bit about this being hard work," Simon grinned back at him. Magnus couldn't help but reach out and ruffle his hair before turning to introduce Alec and Maia.

Maia was quick to get down to business, leading them off the street they'd met on and down the jetty where numerous boats were lined up, their various captains calling out offers of tours, diving excursions and passage to other nearby islands. Looking down at her clipboard Maia listed out the need to know information brusquely.

"We've already arranged transport out there with a man named Meliorn. We've got tents, sleeping bags and camp beds for each of us, plus a central marquee that we can use as a 'base'. We have one generator which should do for powering lighting should we need it and also charging any equipment. We've confirmed we have enough fuel for said generator for four of us for the full duration of the trip. I've also arranged for the rental of a couple of spotlights which should be more than enough for any site we may need them for. Additionally, we have drinking water to last the duration of the trip - though Meliorn assures me that there is fresh spring water that is safe to drink on the island, it's best not to take chances. We have a stockpile of rice and other non-perishables, including tinned fruit and vegetables. For protein, apparently our best bet is to just catch our own - fish are readily available in the shallows and I quote 'even the nerd could catch enough to get by on'," she finished on a chuckle. "I think that's the key information for now unless you have any questions?"

"No Maia, I think you've been quite thorough. Thank you," Magnus clapped her on the shoulder.

She grinned up at him, "In which case, now you two are here we can be on our way. Everything is already loaded onto Meliorn's trawler."

She gestured towards a small boat which resembled many others in the harbour. The tin hull was painted a faded red colour and on the deck lounged a tan man in a black tank top and obnoxiously pink surf-shorts. His head was shaved around one ear, the rest of his hair falling in waves to his shoulders. He greeted them with a wave, rising from his deck chair.

"Hi, I'm Meliorn. I believe you want to head out to find some treasure?" he grinned, not a trace of mockery in his tone.

"Hopefully," Magnus shook his outstretched hand before following Meliorn's directions to stow his and Alec's bags below deck, safe from any surf during the journey.

Meliorn led them over to where a map was pinned out, "This is the island you'd like to reach, yes?"

Magnus glanced down at the map before pulling out his phone and supplying the latitude and longitude to confirm their destination.

"Great stuff, in which case, make yourselves at home. It's going to take about five hours to get to the island, maybe more if the weather changes. I knew I had passengers today though so there's a couple of sun loungers in the storage crate over there if you want them."

Magnus spent the majority of the journey laid out on a lounger, having exchanged his travel clothes for loose swim shorts and a comfy tank top. His sunglasses obscured his eyes, giving him free-reign to ogle Alec whenever the opportunity presented itself. OK, he wasn't being the most professional but the man was incredibly attractive, so sue him.

Magnus observed the way Alec interacted with the others on the boat. While he was quietly reserved, especially around Simon, Alec was making an effort with both of their research assistants and with Meliorn. He spent much of the journey asking the latter an extensive range of questions about his life and how long he'd been in the Bahamas but also about their destination and the surrounding islands.

Meliorn was a knowledgeable guide, he had been living and working these waters for over fifteen years so had many tales to tell. He had apparently also visited their destination on numerous occasions, to get away from the bustle of the tourist towns on the main islands. The island they were heading for was completely uninhabited, save for the range of snakes, iguanas and insects they might encounter. Magnus was pleased to hear that there wasn't anything poisonous or venomous on the island, but there were lots of bugs that would try to bite him. Good job he'd brought plenty of antihistamines and steroid cream. He always had the most hideous reactions to insect bites.

He must have dozed off in the warmth of the sun because the next thing he knew, he was interrupted from soft daydreams about strong arms and crinkle-eyed smiles by Simon's excited shouting.

"That is the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

Magnus sat up and lifted his sunglasses so he could get a clearer view over the side of the boat. There, rising up out of the ocean was a dramatic cliff face of dark rock. It must easily have been 30 meters high, if not more. Sloping down from the cliff edge was a bright canopy of trees, every shade of green cutting through to create a bright contrast against the glittering turquoise of the ocean. The trees cascaded down to the shoreline where a sliver of golden sand was just visible over the waves.

Magnus stood and joined the others, folding his arms over the railing at the bow of the boat.

"Home, sweet home," he joked, nudging Alec with his shoulder.

Alec just grinned, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes, which remained focussed on the view in front of them.

Magnus had seen pictures and satellite images of their destination, he had studied the few maps that existed but nothing had prepared him for the sight as they approached the island. It truly was a paradise. His eyes catalogued every detail, which as they drew closer and the island came more into focus was a lot to take in. From the vines winding up the tree trunks, set not far back from the shoreline to the brilliant reds and oranges of the flowers that grew around the base of the trees. It was a feast of colours and Magnus found himself thinking 'Even if we don't find anything, this island is worth visiting.'

The boat slowed as they approached the shore, the crystal clear water lapping at the hull allowing them to keep a careful watch for any rocks that might cause trouble. In the shallows, shoals of brightly coloured fish darted around.

"Look, a turtle," Simon exclaimed pointing at the creature that was skimming through the water, just below the surface.

A gentle crunch broke Magnus from his observations of the underwater vista, drawing his attention to the land. Meliorn gracefully vaulted over the railing beside him, carrying with him a large rope. He dragged it to the nearest tree and looped it round before knotting it securely.

"I hope you don't mind but I'd like to get back to Nassau this side of midnight ideally so can we unload all your stuff as quickly as possible?" he asked.

Everyone agreed and got to work, pulling the luggage, crates and sacks from below deck. Anything that could be manhandled was thrown on to the beach, while the more delicate equipment was carefully lowered down to the sand below.

Once everything had been unloaded onto the beach Meliorn shook everyone's hands and wished them well with their exploration. He gestured towards the treeline.

"If I were you, I would camp in the clearing a few meters back. It will be a pain to carry everything but it will be worth it to give you some shelter from any adverse weather. Not every day is glorious sunshine and gentle breezes," he warned. "I'll see you folks in six weeks, though if there's any trouble before then, please give me a call and I'll head on out to pick you up."

They waited on the beach until Meliorn had steered the trawler back out into the open waters. With one last wave goodbye, he kicked the engine into high gear and left a churning wake of water behind him.

"OK folks, let's go find a campsite," Magnus declared.

The group made their way towards the general area of treeline that Meliorn had pointed out to them before identifying an area that was slightly less overgrown. While still not a clear path by any means, they could pick their way through the undergrowth there easier.

It was only a few meters back that they came across the clearing Meliorn had mentioned. The space was about twenty meters in diameter and patchy with long grasses, deep green ferns and areas of dirt. Delicate purple flowers sprouted in amongst the grasses, breaking up the sea of greens and browns.

"This must be it!" Magnus spun with his arms stretched wide, his head tilted back, grinning upwards. The canopy of the trees gave them enough cover but there were gaps where swathes of brilliant blue poked through. "I don't want to do too much damage to the ecosystem here, but we can clear a bit of space for the tents close to the treeline and we'll want a fire pit but we can dig that here," he gestured to one of the areas with no plant life.

"Great, I'm starving!" Simon declared, "Shall we drag all our stuff up here then we can make some dinner?"

"Excellent plan, Samuel."

They cut back through the trees and started the long process of carrying their gear up to the clearing. Between the food, water and equipment, it was heavy work. After only a couple of trips, Magnus found himself being grateful that he'd changed into looser clothing on the boat. He paused, wiping the sweat from his brow and took a moment to appreciate the sight of Alec. Clad in black shorts which gripped at his thigh muscles and a shirt patterned with palm trees, he looked perfectly at home on the beach - just maybe not so ready for manual labour. He'd already undone the buttons of his shirt in a desperate bid to cool down, blushing adorably when Magnus had been unable to resist the temptation to wolf-whistle at him. What could he say? He was weak for a man with a strong muscular chest, especially covered in a smattering of dark hair.

Magnus squatted down to heave the next food sack onto his shoulder when he heard a soft thud close by. Turning on the spot, he saw Alec laying face down in the sand. Spluttering sand out of his mouth, the other man pressed himself up, momentarily distracting Magnus as he watched his biceps flex against the material of his cotton shirt. He stumbled back to his feet, his face flushed bright red, looking around to check for witnesses. Magnus couldn't help but snort with laughter at the sand clinging to his sweaty features, in his beard and accentuating his usually expressive eyebrows.

"Are you ok?" he asked, still grinning because as far as he could tell Alec was fine. In a very strange way, the sandy appearance suited him, accentuating his strong jaw and almost making him glitter in the late afternoon sun.

Alec merely glared at him, dusting the sand off his palms.

Magnus couldn't help himself, he broke out laughing again. The sight of Alec looking equal parts embarrassed and grumpy was quite frankly adorable. While his eyebrows were knitted together in frustration and his lips a thin, sand speckled line, his eyes were soft and sad.

Magnus sucked in a soft breath, halting his laughter as suddenly as it started. Stepping forwards, he reached out a hand and brushed the sand off Alec's cheek. He ran his thumb over Alec's eyebrow, dislodging the sand stuck to his sweaty brow. Alec's features softened almost imperceptibly. Had Magnus not been close enough to count every eyelash, he might not have noticed. As it was, he found himself gazing into the depths of the other man's eyes, entirely entranced. He reached his other hand up to brush the sand from Alec's other cheek, carding up into his hair to shake loose the grains tangled there. Alec swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Magnus found himself rising up on the balls of his feet slightly, closing the distance between their faces. His hands cupping Alec's face, it would be all too easy to close the remaining gap and kiss him until he smiled again.

At that realisation he took a swift step back, maybe kissing Alec would make him smile, but it would only cause the other man more hurt. And then they'd be stuck here for six weeks together dealing with the awkwardness of Magnus trying to come on to someone against their wishes. Or Alec could use one of the satellite phones and get a boat from Nassau to come to pick him up, leaving Magnus to deal with the judgement of Maia and Simon. No, that would be even worse. While it was clear to Magnus now that his feelings towards Alec were more than just a physical attraction, the look he was receiving was one of confusion and made it quite clear that the other man didn't understand or welcome what had just happened.

"We should, uh," he gestured towards the remaining items on the beach and then towards the jungle.

"Yes, we should," Alec murmured back, still looking wary as he ran his hand through his stubble to shuck off the remaining sand.

Magnus turned on his heel, grabbing the nearest crate and hurried towards the trees. Maybe this trip had been a terrible idea after all.