Alec looked at the new couch – which, in his opinion, didn't even get to be called a couch – that was sitting in the middle of their living room. There were a lot of problems about it. It was, firstly, huge. Where their last couch had taken a small corner and comfortably fitted two people on it, this one spread through the room in about five thousand meters. Or at least it felt like it did. Alec really didn't see the need to have a couch for a whole party when they lived alone and had about three friends who visited regularly.

Secondly, it was probably the most ugly piece of furniture Alec had ever had the displeasure of seeing. It didn't go along with the rest of the color scheme their apartment held - which was mainly black, white, or something colorful Magnus had insisted on - but was instead a blue one. And not a nice blue, because a dark blue would've been sort of acceptable. No, it was bright blue like a clear sky on a summer day, and it was awful. The pillows looked like they'd gone through a paintball war and lost, because they were covered in different spots of colors that didn't look good in any angle. Alec tried to squint his eyes. It didn't improve the scenery.

And thirdly, it was a couch entirely selected and bought by Magnus. And that meant that no matter how much Alec hated it and wanted it gone, he'd most likely have to live with it anyway because he couldn't stand seeing Magnus sad. Which, Alec admitted, was starting to become a real problem. The same thing had gotten his into this mess in the first place. ('Hey, Alec, I was wondering if we could get a new couch by any chance?' 'I don't really think–' 'I promise it won't be pink.' '... Fine then.')

"So, what do you think?" Magnus asked him, excitement visible in his voice. Alec forced a smile, crossing his arms and eyeing the couch again. He hoped his disgust wasn't as clear as it felt.

"It's, uh... very urban."

Magnus turned to look at him, frowning. "That's all you got? Very urban?"

Alec sighed, rolling his head backwards to stare at the ceiling. "It's just," he began and closed his eyes briefly, "that's it's a lot to take in after the small black one." He figured that was a nice way of saying I hate that thing, please get rid of it and get our old couch back.

"So you don't like it?" Magnus asked, disappointment creeping into his voice. Alec rolled his head back, and was faced with a pouting Magnus. Pouting. Alec briefly wondered if it was normal for someone of Magnus' age to behave like a six-year old.

"That's not what I was saying, just that..." Alec trailed off, not exactly wanting to lie but not tell the truth either. He gave up after a minute of awkward silence. "No, I don't like it," he admitted. When Magnus started to frown again, Alec continued. "It's not that it's horrible," he said even though it totally was. "But I just don't think it... fits here, you know? I mean, that color's a big change, you have to admit it."

Magnus turned his gaze to the couch, eyeing it up and down. Then he let out a defeated sigh. "I suppose you're right. It does look kind of ugly in this lighting," he said and Alec nodded enthusiastically when Magnus looked at him, but rolled his eyes when he turned around. As if the lighting was the only problem about the couch. "So I guess we'll have to get the old one back, then?" Magnus asked, and Alec felt more relieved than ever in his short life.

"Yeah, I suppose so," he said and tried to dim the bright smile on his face.

Magnus looked disappointed, but a week later their old, black, small couch was back on it's original spot. Alec never asked what happened to the blue one. Magnus never told him. Alec figured he was entitled to have a secret of two of his own.

-.::.-

Hope you liked it! / Had to fix this one typo that was bothering the hell out of me, but it should be all good now.