They clambered up the rockface along the side of the waterfall. While there were reasonable sized gouges in the rock forming a natural ladder, they weren't overly prominent and the rock itself was slippery. Magnus was thankful for the vegetation growing out of the cliff face for providing extra supports to grab on to. He was also grateful in some ways that the climb required him to focus mostly on his foot positioning because whenever he looked up, the sight of Alec's shorts stretched over his butt and his muscular legs flexing with the climb threatened to overwhelm him. Swooning halfway up a cliff was a surefire way to break lots of bones!
They were about 15 meters above the lagoon now and the adrenaline was starting to wear off. The excitement that Alec had managed to work out the clue had drawn them this far up but now, with the waterfall roaring just a meter to his right and his muscles beginning to cramp, he wasn't sure this had been such a good idea. He froze, his breathing coming in shallow bursts. His left hand was wrapped tightly around the root of a bush that was brazenly growing perpendicular to the cliff face, his right foot, however, was scrabbling for purchase on a slippy ledge in the rock.
Above him Alec seemed to sense his fear, pausing to look down at Magnus. Under normal circumstances, he would have been ashamed to be under the scrutiny of someone who's opinion he valued more than most other peoples, he would have been frustrated to show weakness. But at this moment, the fear had him paralysed.
"Just breathe Magnus," Alec advised, seemingly calm despite their precarious positioning. "Trust your feet."
"That's easy for you to say," Magnus gritted out through clenched teeth, "Are you part mountain goat or something?"
Alec laughed, "See you can't be that worried, you're still able to mock me. Come on, there's only a few meters until the top. Either we spot a way to get behind the waterfall or we reach the top safely and we can hike back down. Unless you'd rather climb down the way we've just come?" he challenged, with an arched eyebrow.
"If I die, this is all your fault," Magnus grouched, but took a deep breath anyway and tried to relax his muscles.
"This adventure was all your idea, Magnus," Alec said, continuing the climb. "Keep your arms straight, your weight low and push with your legs, you'll feel steadier. I promise."
Magnus grumbled under his breath about pretty boys and silly ideas, but he lifted his foot anyway to the next gouge in the rock. Remembering Alec's words of wisdom he sucked in a deep breath and looked again for the next foothold. As long as he focussed on moving his feet and hands in sequence and kept his breathing even, he could do this. Just don't think about how far it is to fall! He scoffed at his unhelpful brain. Thoughts like that were never productive.
He looked up to check how much further he had to go before he reached safety and realized that Alec was no longer ahead of him. He almost lost his footing at the instantaneous fear that seized his body before realising that Alec had moved further towards the waterfall and was currently shuffling with his back to the rock towards the water. From his vantage point, Magnus couldn't see anything to give away why Alec had suddenly decided to change direction but he assumed something must have prompted him into choosing that route. Spurred on by curiosity, he continued his ascent until he was almost level with where Alec was waiting for him on a ledge protruding from the rockface.
A vine hung over the edge of the rockface, the perfect positioning to help lever himself up onto the ledge. He gave it an experimental tug and only once he was reassured that it was firmly rooted did he use it to pull himself up until he was standing next to Alec, sucking in a deep breath to steady his nerves.
Now that he was up here, he felt a little more stable. While it wasn't wide enough for his full feet, only his toes poked out over the edge.
"Wow," he murmured breathlessly looking out at the view. From where they now stood, they were in among the canopy of the trees. Up here, the light took on a greenish hue where it filtered in through the foliage. He could see patches of cloudless sky through breaks in the leaves and below them, the lagoon glistened in the clearing.
"I think we might be close," Alec said, capturing his attention before jerking his head towards the waterfall.
Gripping the vine again, Magnus leaned forward slightly to peer around him and gasped. Between where the water dropped towards the lagoon and the cliff face the ledge widened out, protected by the rush of water and exposing a cave entrance.
"I think you might be right."
"Shall we?" Alec invited with a grin, holding out his hand to Magnus. They gripped each other's palms and shuffled until the ledge was wide enough for them both to stand safely. Magnus glanced down towards where their hands met but didn't break the bond. They'd come this far together. It felt important that they kept the link as they continued their exploration.
Inside the cave, the noise of the waterfall felt comparatively dulled, a reassuring presence rather than a warning roar. Magnus looked around the small space, looking for the source of the gentle illumination that only added to the sense of peace. While some light was filtering in through the waterfall at their backs, the main source appeared to be a small gap in the cave's roof, barely as broad as Magnus' torso.
"See, we probably didn't need to make the death climb," he bumped Alec gently with his shoulder, gesturing towards the gap above their heads.
"Yes, but then our adventure wouldn't have been nearly as epic," he teased back.
"Alexander," Magnus whispered, awestruck. Goosebumps prickled his skin, not just caused by the cooler air in the cave. He gestured again, this time to the floor in the centre of the cave where a treasure chest sat in pride of place.
They turned to each other in unison, Alec wrapping his arms around Magnus' middle and enveloping him in a giant bear hug.
"You did it!" Alec exclaimed, lifting him from the ground. "You actually did it!"
Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec's neck as the taller man spun him around in excitement. He tucked his face against Alec's neck, overcome with emotion.
"No, we did it, Alexander," tears pricked at the corner of his eyes as he realised that not only had he found the damn treasure, he had gotten here with the help of this amazing man. Alec lowered him slowly until his feet were back on firm ground but neither of them moved to break the embrace they shared. They parted only slightly so they could look at each other.
Magnus felt his grin would split his face in two, as he looked into the beautiful hazel eyes in front of him. He noticed that Alec looked entirely too serious for this moment but as he opened his mouth to question it, a pair of lips crashed into his.
He froze in surprise, the unexpected feel of those soft lips against his causing his brain to disengage. Magnus didn't realise he'd been seeing a dull version of everything around him until the moment Alec's lips met his. It was like the world suddenly became technicolour, with every shade of the rainbow dancing before his eyes.
OK, so maybe he was being dramatic but the man he had been crushing on for the best part of a decade was currently kissing him. Alexander Lightwood was here. Right now. Kissing him. He was allowed to react this way.
He lifted slightly on his tiptoes to create a better angle, molding his lips against Alec's with a soft sigh. He threaded one hand into Alec's hair, carding through the dark locks while the other hand trailed down his back, pulling him closer.
Alec's mouth parted slightly, and Magnus seized the opportunity to nip gently at his lower lip with his teeth, before deepening the kiss. He couldn't believe that this was really happening.
Pulling back only when they were both breathless, they pressed their foreheads together and grinned. Alec's hands stroked restlessly at his sides.
"I think you've got some treasure to investigate," he smirked down at Magnus.
"I've got all the treasure I need right here thanks," Magnus quipped, nipping again at Alec's lower lip to punctuate the thought.
Alec groaned in exasperation, "That was the worst pick-up line I've ever heard."
"Judging by the way you just kissed me, I don't need pick-up lines," Magnus shot back.
"Shut it," was the only response he got before Alec grabbed at his hand and dragged him towards the chest.
They kneeled side by side in front of the dark wooden box. The joints were reinforced with metal supports and the lid was closed with two ornate clasps. By mutual decision, they each grabbed a clasp, barely daring to breathe.
"Together?" Magnus whispered.
"Together," Alec nodded and they both pulled back their clasps and lifted the lid of the chest, with a slight squeak of the old hinges.
The first thing that occurred to Magnus when they opened the chest was a sense of relief. There was actually something in there. A small part of him had feared that they would have been beaten to this by looters in the preceding 200 years. But that relief was short founded. Before him sat a chest full of… Well, he could only describe it as stuff. Certainly not the traditional kind of treasure associated with pirates.
At the very top sat a very scuffed mirror, dulled with age and framed by simple wood. Magnus lifted it out gently, blowing the layer of dust from the surface. It was about the size of an A4 sheet of paper and the reflection it offered was hazy and dull. Magnus set it aside carefully so he could inspect the contents hidden beneath it.
Pulling out the next item, a rusted sword with a gold gilded handle. Magnus tossed it in the air a few times as if to check its weight before setting it aside. Next to him, Alec was looking in confusion at the leather item he had pulled from the chest, made up of multiple strands of soft-looking leather, with knots at intervals.
"It's a cat o' nine tails," Magnus informed him, running his fingers through the cords to untangle them.
"I know that. But these were generally favoured by the British Navy as a punishment. It surprises me that a pirate would have one as a keepsake," Alec replied.
"Remember Alexander, not all pain is for punishment." Magnus threw his blushing companion a wink before reaching back into the box and pulling out an elegantly forged chalice. The main body of the cup was frosted glass, encapsulated in gold strands forming an intricate pattern which wove around the stem and the glass. Within the stem, a gleaming ruby caught the light, held in place by the gold detailing before the base flared out. He added it to his collection of artefacts before sparing a glance to the pile Alec was amassing, which seemed to consist of more leather whips and a collection of manacles with leather cuffs and rusted chains.
Magnus peered into the chest to see that all that remained was a collection of ivory items. Lifting the largest of them out he offered it to Alec with a laugh.
"Is that?" the other man said, eyes wide with shock.
"You know, I think it might be." Magnus managed to get out through his laughter.
In his hand he held an incredibly realistic, if slightly large, carving of a penis. Around 10 inches in length and with a reasonable girth, the maker had clearly put significant effort into the details, including folds of skin, veins running up the shaft and a small heart-shaped indent towards the base.
"I'd suggest taking it for a spin but I fear I would leave you disappointed in comparison," Magnus joked.
Alec shoved him lightly, a flush creeping up the sides of his neck and colouring his cheeks a delightful shade of pink. Magnus loved every single one of Alec's blushes, they always made him want to kiss the heated skin. Now he knew that he could. Enjoying the confidence still brimming in him from their earlier kiss, he pressed his lips to Alec's cheeks and revelled in the way his cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.
He continued to trail kisses down Alec's cheek, through his stubble, until he reached his lips. Pressing delicate kisses, first to the corner, before moving to fully meet his lips with his own. This kiss was softer than their first but no less passionate. Their lips moved against each other in a perfect dance. Magnus was fairly certain he could spend the rest of his life kissing this man and never get bored. Alec pressed one hand against Magnus' neck, drawing him closer and sinking his fingers into his hair. Magnus groaned at the sensation, goosebumps forming on his skin. Alec's other hand caressed his lower back. Magnus brought his hands up to grasp at Alec's shoulders, feeling the warmth of his skin penetrating the thin material of his cotton shirt. They stayed like that, lost in the moment, until by mutual consent they both pulled back, smiling softly at each other through hooded eyes.
"C'mon," Alec's voice came out surprisingly gruff. Clearing his throat, he continued closer to his normal pitch. "We should check the rest of this stuff out, then work out how we're going to get back to camp."
"Fine," Magnus sighed dramatically. Taking another look in the chest he quickly identified the remaining objects. Now his curiosity around the treasure had been satisfied he was keen to get back to kissing Alec. "All that remains seems to be Raziel's collection of ivory butt plugs. Six of them to be exact."
"Well, whatever I expected we would find, I would never have guessed this," Alec huffed out with a chuckle, sitting back on his heels.
"Yes, yes. Laugh it up, my entire life's work has been dedicated to the pursuit of centuries-old sex toys," Magnus mock glared.
"Don't pretend you're not going to enjoy making stuffy old academics feel really awkward as you present your findings in intimate detail at conferences for at least the next decade," Alec nudged him.
Magnus chuckled, "That's true. It's going to be a delight seeing some of the old guard deal with this."
"Let's pack them back up for now. We should head back to camp soon so we don't risk losing the light and being stuck in the jungle at night. We can work out what we need to do with it all tomorrow."
Nodding in agreement, Magnus began to collect the items he had removed from the chest. They quickly and carefully stowed the 'treasures' back in the chest.
"While it's likely not worth anything, I think they deserve pride of place in a museum somewhere," Magnus suggested.
Alec raised an eyebrow, "You think a museum will display this stuff?"
"Alexander, how dare you suggest that a museum wouldn't be lucky to have these artefacts in their collection. And if they don't want them," Magnus shrugged nonchalantly, "then I guess I'll have to open my own museum."
Alec's answering laugh was music to Magnus' ears. Even if it was at his expense, Magnus would never say no to hearing that carefree, deep, throaty chuckle.
"So, back the way we came or do you want to see if there's an easier way through the roof?" Alec asked, changing the subject. "I think I could boost you through that hole - the ceiling isn't too high. Then you could find something to lower down for me to climb up?"
"Let's do that one," Magnus said, desperate to avoid being on a rockface ever again.
Alec knelt and cupped his hands, preparing to lift Magnus when he suddenly turned back towards the treasure. "We should take something with us, just to prove to Simon & Maia that we were successful."
"As long as it's not anything ivory," Alec warned.
Magnus rifled through the chest for a moment before grabbing the cutlass. Alec joined him, helping himself to one of the leather objects from the chest. Magnus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Shut up," Alec growled.
"Never said a word," he grinned back.
"You didn't have to," Alec's eyes were narrowed, but the crinkles at the corners and the slight uplift of his lips was all the evidence Magnus needed that he was not-so-secretly amused.
Looping the scabbard of the cutlass around his neck he made his way back to beneath the opening in the roof. Alec obediently knelt, cupping his hands for Magnus to step into. Steadying himself on Alec's shoulder with one hand he looked up at the rocks above his head to make sure he wouldn't concuss himself. Alec stood, pushing him towards the gap in the roof, Magnus reached above his head to find anything to grip on to. Once he had found a couple of stable enough handholds in the rock, he pulled himself up until he could use the bulk of his body to wedge himself into the gap.
Hoping he didn't look as ridiculous as he felt, he wriggled himself out of the hole and into the sunlight.
Glancing around he looked for anything that might be sturdy enough to help hoist Alec through the hole too. Spotting a particularly thick looking vine wrapped around a nearby tree, he used the cutlass to hack through it, cutting off a section a couple of meters long. He dropped one end down into the hole.
A soft "ooft" echoed up to him and he laughed slightly.
"Sorry, I should have warned you to watch out there," he apologised. He braced himself against a nearby tree and secured his grip on his end of the vine, wrapping it around his wrists a couple of times to be safe. "Ready when you are," he called.
His feet slid forward a few centimeters as Alec put his weight through the vine. Magnus secured himself more fully, sinking down to lower his weight and leaning back away from the hole in the ground. It was barely a minute before he lost his balance and toppled back when Alec's weight disappeared suddenly. A shock of dark hair appeared out the hole, quickly followed by shoulders and torso. Alec pulled himself up and dusted himself off, grinning at Magnus still sat spread eagle on the ground where he'd fallen.
He reached out a hand and offered it to Magnus. Gratefully, Magnus grasped at his wrist and heaved himself to his feet with as much elegance as he could muster.
Glancing around to get their bearings, Alec gestured to their left "I think we should go this way."
"Lead the way," Magnus agreed, more than happy to take the opportunity to ogle Alec's ass as he picked his way through the trees.
As it was, the slopes back down to camp required more of Magnus' concentration than he cared to admit. Picking their way through the trees, at one point Magnus resorted to using Raziel's cutlass as a machete to cut through a particularly dense bit of foliage.
"Looks like you made a good call picking that up," Alec commented with a grin.
"Yep," Magnus said preening slightly, "And don't think I haven't noticed that delectable bit of leather strapped to your leg, Alexander. A thigh holster, fancying yourself as an assassin?"
"Shush. It was the least creepy thing in that chest of doom," Alec mumbled, face flushing bright red.
Magnus grinned to himself, enjoying the reactions he could illicit out of the handsome man before him. He really did blush in the most adorable way.
"One man's chest of doom is another man's chest of pleasure," he offered with a wink.
Alec just offered a heavy sigh, before turning on his heel and continuing down the slope. They reached camp with barely an hour to spare until sunset. Looking around, the space was unusually quiet considering Simon was on the island with them.
"Looks like we've got the place to ourselves," Magnus took the opportunity to press himself up against Alec, revelling in the feeling of his muscular chest and sculpted abs through the thin shirt. Pressing a kiss against his throat he put on his best sultry voice, low and silky, "Your tent or mine?"
Alec groaned but returned his kiss none the less.
"Can you stop with the bad pick-up lines, please? You've already got me, I'm all yours Magnus."
Magnus' heart fluttered wildly in his chest. All pretence of shameless flirting forgotten at the sudden sincerity in Alec's eyes.
"Mine?"
"As long as you'll have me."