Life with Magnus

By Shin Sankai

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Chapter Two

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"Welcome to my establishment, what can my bartender make for you this evening?" Ragnor was quick to place on a friendly smile as any new patron meant more money for him.

"What do you recommend?" Even his deep cool voice kept Magnus frozen on the spot.

"Magnus," Finally his bartender broke from his trance, turning his gaze to look at him, almost seeming a bit startled for having reacted the way he did. Ragnor had never seen Magnus react like that to any patron in his establishment before. It surprised him, but no more then Magnus had surprised himself it seemed. "Why not offer this gentleman one of your special drinks?"

"I'm not really..."

"Of course," Magnus gave quite the cheery smile which faulted the man from declining as he was about to voice he wasn't all that experienced with exotic types of drinks, special or not. After all, anyone would dislike paying for an expensive drink that they hated upon tasting it.

Ragnor gave a friendly nod before slipping back into his office, leaving Magnus to manage his bar. He had two other waiters in the establishment who quietly took orders from the customers and voiced them back to Magnus who had an uncanny ability to remember all orders without the need to refer to the written slips of paper that were next to each serving tray.

"I hope you enjoy." Magnus placed his special martini on the counter, on a coaster, in front of the blue eyed stranger. He silently watched the man take a sip, a most peculiar expression forming on his face for a split second and then it was gone. "I apologise that it is not to your liking." Magnus was a master at facial expressions and had caught the flicker of distaste.

"Not at all, its very..." Another pulled facial expression as a sip was taken. "...its very good." A sudden grin formed on Magnus' lips. The man was a pretty bad liar and he found it quite entertaining.

"Never had a drink like that before?" Magnus placed his elbows on the counter, cupping his face, completely fascinated in the man in front of him. He quite liked it when those blue eyes gazed across at him.

"Sorry..." The man humbly commented, almost feeling embarrassed that he couldn't hide his expressions all that well. He was a master of it in front of his family, but in front of this man, it seemed it didn't work.

"Its quite alright. Everyone is a virgin at first." Magnus tried desperately not to blush as the handsome man before him raised an eyebrow. "At tasting... I mean at trying new drinks..." Magnus cleared his throat. "Sorry, bad use of words there." He was never one to get flustered, or it had been a long time since he'd ever felt that way, but this man was making him feel exactly that! It reminded him of his teens, and back in his college days too, when he began to awaken to the feel of women and men. Magnus distracted himself by wiping down the counter once more, effortlessly completing several orders and then was back over to the quiet man who for some reason had not stopped following him with those intense eyes of his. "Let me make you something else."

"This is fine, honestly, I can drink it." It was time for Magnus to raise a perfectly shaped eyebrow at the stubborn comment. He let out a slight sigh, making his way around the bar and took a seat next to the dashing stranger who had now swivelled in the stool to face him.

"You don't like it, so don't drink it." Lips parted to argue with him, but Magnus raised the index finger on his right hand, it being oh so close to the man's pink lips, he feeling the man's breath against it. "I'm not offended if you don't like a drink I make. What offends me is not being given the chance to make a drink you'll actually like." He watched the man tilt his head at his words. "For instance, if you tell me some flavours you like, it'll help me create a drink just for you." Magnus tried winning him over with another smile and an encouraging nod of the head.

"My tastes..." He was fascinated as the man before him crossed his arms against his chest, his button down shirt parting open against his chest as he was lost in deep thought. Magnus was able to look upon the tattoo on his neck more closely, the black ink was quite striking against his pale skin. However, his eyes did drift down a little further, noticing some more ink being hidden beneath the man's shirt. Did he have another one? "I'm not sure what my tastes are." Quickly Magnus raised his eyes back up. "I'm not much of a drinker."

"I see..." It was time for the stranger to observe as Magnus crossed his arms over his plain black and white uniform complete with a bow tie around his neck. To the blue eyed stranger, Magnus had this, rather cute, pondering look on his face. "Oh! I know! How about tasting something that is usually served like a nightcap then? I mean men and women can drink it any time of day, but I believe the age of it, and its smooth and warming feeling is rather suited just before heading to bed." The patron arched an eyebrow at that. "It'll make you feel content, but will also give you a small buzz too."

"Um..."

"I wouldn't want to be a cause of a hangover for you, then you may think this place is revolting and never return." Magnus made his way back around the bar since a few more orders had come in.

"I was walking around after having finished up some business, not truly being familiar with the area, since I've just moved here. Its the first bar I came across in the neighbourhood and I felt like a drink. I also needed to get out of the rain as that hit rather suddenly." Magnus stopped short of spilling one of the beers as he gazed openly at the gentleman seated in front of him. Not familiar with the area? The first bar he came across? Goodness, did he even realise what type of establishment this was? "What you described, it sounds nice, so I'm willing to try it."

Magnus gave a nod of his head as he turned away, still feeling those eyes watching him as he placed cubes of ice into a crystal glass and then pulled down the best and oldest scotch the bar had. The golden brown liquid spilled over the clinking ice cubes. Magnus turned around once more, placing it on the counter, on another coaster in front of the dark haired patron. "I hope you enjoy." He picked up the abandoned martini, tossing it down the drain with a frown marring his face. What a waste!

"Woah..." He lifted his gaze, watching those blue orbs shine even more if that were possible.

"Too strong?"

"Yes...no...I mean yes, but..." Magnus couldn't hep but grin as the man was fumbling his words. He couldn't possibly be drunk already could he? Was he a total light weight? "Its very smooth, strong but smooth. And it does give me a little buzz."

"Take your time and enjoy." Magnus heard his name being called, one of the other waiters was trying to get his attention, frustration clearly on his face as it appeared there was something happening over at a table of four men. "Excuse me a moment..." The man seated at the bar couldn't help but follow Magnus with his eyes, watching as he made his way over to the rowdy men who seemed to want to argue about something.

The dark haired man felt his eyebrows furrow when one customer ended up snaking an arm around Magnus' narrow waist, though he didn't seem affected by it at all! It appeared as though he were talking to the party of four in a very calming voice. Not that he could hear much since there was a bit of music being played and the party of four weren't near him either.

It wasn't long before the darkly clothed stranger felt himself rise from his seated position, almost toppling over the stool when the man that had his arm snaked around Magnus' waist decided to slide it down and grope the bartender on the butt! His eyes blinked when Magnus oh so calmly and rather swiftly detached himself from prying hands, twisting the man's arm behind his back in such fluid movements it was like he never even saw it happen! He watched fascinated as Magnus whispered something into the man's ear, giving them what appeared to be a friendly smile, but for some reason it almost seemed frightening in a way. It did not take long for the tipsy men to drop a load of money onto the table and then they left in an instant. He continued to observe, as Magnus seemed to huff a little, hands on hips as he gave a slight lecture to the waiter before ruffling the other man's hair, an almost brotherly smile fell on his lips now. Magnus swiped up the money and turned back to attend to the bar once more, completely missing the fact that the dark haired patron had been watching him.

Magnus placed the money into the till and quickly read over two orders that the other waiter had placed next to the serving trays. Magnus poured some beers, got some tequila shots organised and then went about mixing some cocktails at lightening speed.

"Are you alright?" Magnus must have given an odd look, for the dark haired patron had finally risen his hand from his glass of scotch and waved it slightly to where he'd previously been with that party of four.

"Oh, oh yes, of course." Magnus began to pour some shots for the bachelor party table. He now realised that the man had witnessed everything that had happened, except the scathing and threatening words he voiced to the party of four. "Whilst it is that sort of establishment, we do not condone any patron from making passes like that to staff. Well, not unless we truly wanted it of course."

"That sort of establishment?" Magnus filled the serving tray and then again moved from behind the bar to sit next to the tall stranger once more, having completely heard the confusion in his deep masculine voice. He leaned against the bar, elbow on the counter and right hand cupping his face.

"Do you truly not know what kind of bar you have walked into?" He watched fascinated as the man turned his crystal blue eyes about the bar, eyes squinting around the dull lighting, finally taking note the bar was only filled with men, young and old, and then his gaze locked onto two men in a corner of the bar, hands linked and then their faces drew closer, lips colliding in a rather passionate and heated kiss.

"Oh!" Magnus was waiting for the man to make a dash for it, revolted in what he had stumbled into, but surprise of all surprises that never happened. "Oh..." In fact, the man had not torn his gaze away from the two young men making out. For a moment there, he almost looked envious! But the look in his gaze was gone in an instant as he finally turned back to his drink, gazing into the dark liquid.

Magnus couldn't help but place a hand on the man's shoulder, watching him jerk at his light touch, as though he'd burned him! "It is quite alright to be surprised, even disgusted if its your first time seeing something like that. After all, not everyone is accepting of such behaviour, even if such relationships are widely seen about the place these days."

"I'm not disgusted." Magnus felt his shoulders relax in an instant. Could he hope? "But I just realised the time and I do have to get going."

"Are you sure? Why not stay for one more drink?"Magnus wondered if the man could make out his hopeful gaze.

"No, I have to get going." Clearly he hadn't. "I've an appointment tomorrow." Magnus rung up his bill, making sure not to charge him for the martini and gave a nod of gratitude to the rather nice tip that was given to him. The man placed on his jacket and then gave Magnus an odd look as he was escorted to the door.

"I do hope you come again." Magnus opened the door, watching the man eye him quietly and he felt his stomach churn. "Maybe I might get you to enjoy my special martini one day?" He felt his heart flutter when a small smile broke lopsidedly across pink lips.

"Maybe..." The man buttoned up his jacket. "Thank you for the hospitality...um...sorry...I'm not good with names. Yours was...?"

"Oh! Its Magnus. Magnus Bane." Ragnor had never bothered to get himself and the two waiters name badges. They were usually referred to as 'hey you', 'excuse me' or even 'oi'. Such was the life of people who worked in bars, but it never bothered Magnus at all. Customers just heard his name from word of mouth really especially if they were listening intently to the waiters who spoke to him. "And you are...?" Magnus voiced, hoping the man would reciprocate with his own name as well. He had calmly placed out his hand, and was pleasantly surprised when the man before him took firm grip of it. He hoped he didn't give away the jolt that his body felt, electricity practically buzzing through his system when their hands connected.

"A-Alexander Lightwood, but everyone calls me Alec." Had he felt it too?

"I hope to see you again...Alexander." He watched an odd look pass across the man's handsome face, probably because he referred to him as Alexander and not Alec. After all, he didn't want to be lumped in with everyone. Magnus watched Alec lift the collar of his jacket up to try and rid some of the chill in the evening air as he began walking up the stairs.

"Oh!" Magnus pried the door back open, his ears super sensitive to Alec's deep voice it seemed. He peered out into the dull lighting, taking note it was still lightly drizzling out there. "Your eyes," Magnus tilted his head, butterflies fluttering in this stomach as Alexander was gazing down at him from half way up the stairs, that tiny lopsided smile on his face once more. "I thought it when I first looked at you. Even though they are contact lenses, they really suit you."

"Thank you," Magnus replied in an instant. Everyone thought his tastes were weird, except this man it seemed. Or he could pretty much still think his tastes were weird, but took it all in his stride.

He was given a slight wave and then Alexander was gone. As Magnus closed the door, he still stood at it, thinking over what was said to him. Had Alexander truly been watching him since he arrived? He had felt his eyes on him a few times, but then once he is distracted by work, his thoughts are fully focused there and not on his surroundings. And then there was that comment too. Had he possibly been flirting with him?

"Magnus!" He darted his head to the left, noticing the two waiters were waving several drink orders and snapping out of his daze, Magnus got stuck into his work, even if a tiny little smile couldn't be broken from his lips as all he could think about was Alexander's deep rich voice and those startling crystal blue eyes.

# To be Continued #