His fiance's graduation ceremony was the highlight of Alec's week. He loved having his future aunt-in-law visiting, and he was more proud of Magnus than he thought possible, but that had been back in May; July was now upon them. Aleida had long returned home and it was their turn to visit her.
"I'll book flights," Alec said in passing a few weeks before they were supposed to leave.
"No, you will not," Magnus replied. Alec was taken aback.
"How are we supposed to get there then?" He asked.
"It's your turn to live in my world," Magnus had simply replied, which is how Alec had come to appreciate just how uncomfortable busses were after about four hours. In fact, he could not remember when he'd last been this uncomfortable. His butt hurt from the hard cold seat, and there weren't any seat belts so he kept sliding down whenever the bus hit a bump on the road.
"Are we almost there?" Alec whined, but Magnus just chuckled. Alec groaned, then Magnus began stroking his hair and Alec decided it wasn't so bad. He rested his head on his fiance's shoulder, and gazed out the window at the seemingly endless trees and telephone poles flying by. Alec couldn't imagine life getting any better than this. Sure, he was already very aware of how much he hated busses, and yes he wanted a pillow, but Magnus was here. Alec could feel the other man's cool finger tips at his temple, could hear his slow even breathing. Alec closed his eyes, and when he opened them the bus had stopped.
"Are we there now?" Alec asked. Magnus laughed with more energy this time.
"Yes Alexander," Magnus chuckled. "Yes we are."
"That wasn't so bad," Alec said. "I thought you said it was a whole day kinda trip?"
"You slept through half of it," Magnus explained.
"I fell asleep?" Alec asked, surprised.
"And snored too," Magnus giggled.
"I do not snore!" Alec said defiantly.
"True," Magnus conceded. "On a bed you don't, but now we know busses are different." He was grinning from ear to ear, and Alec just knew Magnus was enjoying this far too much.
Just then, the doors of the bus opened and people started getting out. It seemed they'd been waiting for the driver to open the luggage compartment underneath.
"Next time we fly," Alec grumbled as they went together to get their suitcase. Magnus hadn't let Alec pack as much as he wanted and insisted they share one suitcase. Sure, it made sense now that Alec had seen the size of the buses luggage hold, but still.
"Where are we going?" Alec asked as Magnus grabbed their luggage by the handle and started walking.
"To my aunt's house," Magnus replied. "Isn't that why we are here?"
"She isn't picking us up?" Alec asked.
"It's two blocks," Magnus chuckled. Alec decided to say nothing rather than admit he wanted the two block ride. With his free hand, Magnus took hold of Alec's and they started walking.
"She did pick you up when you were a kid through, right?" Alec asked.
"I took a bus to school as a kid," Magnus explained. "She had to be at work hours before I went to school."
"That's crazy," Alec sighed, shaking his head.
"Not really," Magnus replied. "Actually your life is the crazy one."
"I disagree," Alec argued.
"I suppose it's our life now," Magnus said, and Alec couldn't disagree.
"That I like," Alec smiled, squeezing his fiance's hand gently as they continued. He had to admit the walk was making his legs and ass feel better after all those hours sitting on a bus.
They walked hand in hand, Alec not really sure what to look for, and then Magnus turned and started walking up a driveway. Alec wasn't sure what to make of it. He rationally knew he had a skewed point of view on life, but the reality of that knowledge was something else entirely. As Magnus walked up to the front door, Alec stood back. The house was so small. There was an old, but well cared for car in the driveway, and a path up to a set of steps at the top of which was a single door with a screen on it. The paint was yellow and peeling in places, and the landscaping looked like minimum maintenance requirement to avoid fines. The lawn had been cut, but that was about it. Just then, the front door opened and Aleida appeared, her arms open wide.
"Welcome!" Aleida exclaimed. As they approached she put an arm around each of them. "How was the trip?"
"The usual," Magnus replied with a slight shrug. Alec wanted to whine about how uncomfortable it was, but again kept his mouth shut. He couldn't imagine taking that thing to school everyday, and didn't want to sound like a wuss.
"I've got dinner ready," Aleida said. "And something cold to drink."
"It's not that hot for July," Magnus replied. "But I never say no to homemade iced tea." She turned and went back into the house with Magnus and Alec close behind. As they entered, Alec noticed the small unlit fireplace in the corner. The floors were worn in high traffic places, but seemed to be made of some kind of laminate. It was very homey while also being very basic. Alec couldn't help but notice the similarities between here and their apartment. Magnus's place had a homey feel as well.
"It's so great to have you two here!" Aleida exclaimed as she poured them something to drink. Alec took a sip and couldn't help but find it delicious. He'd never had homemade iced tea before. It wasn't as sweet as the stuff you get in the store, but it was definitely more flavourful.
"It's nice to bring Alec here," Magnus said. "And see you of course."
"Nice save," Aleida smiled. "Though you did just see me in May."
"This is really good," Alec said. "Thanks."
"My mother's recipe," Aleida explained. "I'm glad you like it."
They sipped their tea for a while until Alec's growling stomach gave him away. Magnus started setting the table as the oven timer went off. Aleida pulled something out of the oven, and Magnus somehow managed to carry three glasses and three plates at once. The two of them were like a well organized team, and Alec wasn't sure where to stand, so he just stood there and sipped his tea.
"Oh Mags, we've have stew so don't bother with the plates."
"My name is Magnus," he sighed, though he did put the plates back in the cupboard, and collected three bowls instead.
"You will always be Mags to me," Aleida said, blowing him a kiss as she set the dish she'd just pulled from the oven on the stove. Alec took a closer look and realized they were homemade dinner rolls. He didn't see any pots on the stove however.
"And you wonder why I moved out," Magnus chuckled, rolling his eyes. Magnus put the bowls down, then disappeared carrying glasses and cutlery. When he returned, he picked up one of the bowls, handed it to Alec and said, "Guests first." But Alec wasn't sure where the food was.
"Umm," Alec said standing awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen. He was feeling a little overwhelmed by Magnus's normal. Magnus must of noticed this before he moved forward smiling, and kissed Alec on the cheek before collected Alec's bowl from his hands and walking over to the counter by the sink. It looked like some kind of storage of some kind, but when Magnus opened it, Alec could smell the distinctive scent of beef and barley stew.
"Has he never seen a slow cooker before?" Aleida asked Magnus grinning.
"You've been to his house," Magnus reminder her. "They have wings and a chef." Alec wasn't sure if they were teasing him, or what exactly was going on, so he just stood there and waited to understand. Magnus filled three bowls, handed one to Alec and carried the other two, while Aleida carried the dinner rolls. Together they all went into the dining room to eat.
Magnus had already set the table. There was a jug of more iced tea in the center, napkins, and cutlery all set up. Alec sat down and picked up his moment Alec took a bite, he decided talking could wait, and started eating it as fast as possible. It was so delicious. The dinner roll melted in his mouth, and the soup was so flavourful, with potatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, and big chucks of beef. Alec went back for seconds.
"I always say you can tell the food is good if no one is talking," Aleida said grinning. He'd finished his second bowl and was leaning back in his chair, too full to move.
"It's really good," Alec mumbled. "Thanks."
"My pleasure," Aleida replied. "So, now that everyone's stomach is full, I want details. Have you two picked a date yet?"
"I was just thrilled he said yes," Alec mumbled. Both of them laughed a little, but Alec wasn't sure why. He'd been genuinely worried Magnus wouldn't want to marry him.
"You know you're a catch right?" Aleida told Alec with a giggle.
"Catches don't end up in the friendzone," Alec reminded her.
"That was ages ago!" Magnus laughed. "You can't still be on about that."
"Sure I can," Alec said grinning.
"How many guys in the friendzone does it take to change a lightbulb?" Magnus asked suddenly. Alec just groaned. "None. They all stand around complimenting it, and get upset when it won't screw." Alec couldn't help but be surprised when Aleida burst out laughing. He would never have said anything like that with his mother around.
"Or how about," Magnus continued, but then he froze. "Yep, out of friendzone puns."
"Thank god for small favours," Alec sighed.
"No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery," Magnus said, and Alec laid his head down on the table.
"Not your best work," Aleida admitted. "Too well known."
"Ah yes, good point," Magnus replied. "A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering."
"Better," Aleida smiled.
"A Roman walks into a bar, holds up two fingers and says, 'five beers please'," Magnus grinned, and his aunt burst out laughing. It took Alec an embarrassingly long time to remember the roman numeral for five looked like the letter V.
"Why was World War One so quick?" Magnus asked, then answered before anyone else could. "Because they were Russian."
"And why was World War Two so slow?" Aleida said, as if she knew the answer.
"Because they were Stalin," Magnus roared with laughter.
"I will have to change the vows to 'till pun do us part'," Alec said, lifting his head from the table.
"Let's talk about rights and lefts. You're right so I left," Magnus said.
"And that's when he called off the wedding," Alec chuckled.
"It's like I had alter-motives," Magnus said, barely able to speak through his laughter.
"Mags, before we all die laughing, would you be so kind as to serve dessert?" Aleida asked, still chuckling.
"Of course," Magnus smiled and got up from the table, still grinning.
"Alexander," Aleida said, turning to him suddenly serious, which was an accomplishment in itself. "I can see the way you look at my Mags, and I know how much you love him, but as his only parent, it is my job to make sure you take good care-"
"I'm gonna stop you right there," Alec chuckled a little, his smile widening. It was just so hard to be serious after all those puns. He wasn't sure how Aleida had pulled it off. "All I want is to protect, and stand by that man till the day I die. I love him, and I can't imagine life without him." Alec turned to look around the room before adding. "Being here, seeing his world has shown me a few things. He has worked to understand my perspective, and now I must learn to understand his so we can join our lives together."
"Good," Aleida said with a smile. "Glad we straighten that out."
"No straightening Alec out!" Magnus called from the kitchen. Aleida had said that last phase rather louder than the rest, and Alec suspected that Magnus had heard 'Glad we straighten you out', rather than, 'that out.'
He reappeared carrying two plates of what looked like pie with whipped cream. Alec had to chuckle at the slightly concerned look on his fiance's face.
"Don't worry your pretty little head," Alec laughed. "I assure you, I'm as gay as the day is long." Magnus smiled at him, then looked thoughtfully past Alec.
"Where does that phrase come from anyway?" Magnus mused. "Why is a long day gay?"
"That's why god invented google," Alec chuckled.
"He did no such thing," Magnus huffed, but he put the dessert down and got out his phone nonetheless.
"It's an expression," Alec laughed, reaching forward to get a plate of pie. Magnus was still typing into his phone.
"Where's mine?" Aleida asked her nephew.
"Google says, the phrase 'as the day is long' means Unceasingly; very; thoroughly; to a very high degree," Magnus said.
"Very gay," Alec laughed. "Works for me."
"I suppose I'll have to get my own," Aleida sighed with a shake of her head. Then she stood up, and disappeared through the kitchen door.
"The great irony here," Magnus laughed as he sat down to eat. "Is how long I thought you were straight."
"Yes because sitting near my cousin was such a huge give away," Alec chuckled, then added sarcastically. "Great detective work."
"You danced with her too," Magnus defended himself.
"Oh, and don't forget we are talking about my gay cousin," Alec grinned, tried to contain his laughter.
"Yes yes," Magnus sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "I know. My gaydar was on the fritz okay?"
"For four months?" Alec asked.
"Oh shut up," Magnus chuckled. "And I believe it was three months actually."
"Listening to you two, it's like you're already married," Aleida laughed as she reappeared with her own piece of pie. "And you are totally doing the dishes Magnus."
"What, why?" Magnus whined.
"You made me get my own pie," she chuckled. "Oh, and I cooked."
Please review and tell me what you think. :)
Sneak Peek Chapter 96
Why were dishes so totally and completely mind numbingly boring? Right now she was staring up at the ceiling which was somehow infinitely more interesting. There was no one else home. Her phone was in her pocket still blaring out music that had tried to increase the quality her dish washing. Clary pulled it out and started typing.
'Hey,' she typed. She got a reply right away.
'Hey yourself,' Brett texted back.
'My house is a mess,' Clary texted. 'How are you?'
'I'm good,' Brett said. 'How big a mess are we talking?'
'Tea bags are growing things,' Clary explained. 'It takes like a half a second to throw them out and yet I find them everywhere.'
'It's such an easy thing to do,' Brett replied back.
'I know right!' Clary ranted over text. 'I mean I know I'm not working and they are but this is getting out of hand.'
'Do you want help cleaning up?' Brett messaged her.