Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Thirty-Nine 🗝

"Darling?"

Varian's voice was clear, echoing through the flat with the distinct chime of a that is man smiling. Alec felt himself bristle at the sound, his anxiety spiking sharply as he looked at the table in front of him.

It was set perfectly, three candles, a glass for each of them. The food was not his choice, but rather a combination of Varian's favorite foods, and the wine was parred to match, once again, not his decision. He had left the food up to Izzy, who order it special via Magnus and Rome.

Alec nearly tumbled down the spiral staircase trying to get to Varian before he came to him. "Hey, hey, hey."

It is obvious to Varian that there is something that the man is hiding something, even if he could not see the colors in the air around him, it is seen in the way that he repeatedly rubs the back of his neck, and how he licks his lips at common intervals. Varian is not bothered by the fact that he is hiding something, but rather steps up to the man and presses a kiss to his cheek.

"Hello Darling." Varian is smiling, and holds his hands out to the man, watching closely as he placed a kiss on the back of each hands. "Right, I have work I need to finish and I believe that you have something you are trying to keep secret."

Varian's voice is teasing as he speaks, he moves backwards, turning slightly as he does and looking over his shoulder at his boyfriend. Alec seems to reboot for a moment, blinking slowly a few times before shaking his head and speaking as though he knew what he was going to say the entire time.

"I made dinner." He paused, shaking his head. "I ordered dinner."

Varian's laugh is bright, he smiles at Alec and steps towards him, wrapping his arms around the taller man's neck and kissing his cheek. "Work can wait."

There is something in the way that Alec looks at Varian that makes him want to pause this moment and never leave it. His eyes are full of love, an unwavering love that makes the man smile brightly and press a kiss to Alec's jaw line.

He is in love, perfectly and wonderfully in love, a pink hue decorates the air around Alec, and without truly thinking about it, Varian's hands reach for it.

It is like dipping his hands into water. The color covers his hands and fingers, meshing with the black bars and creating a simple painting. Alec looks at him, setting both of his hands on the man's waist and speaking softly as to not ruin the moment.

"What do you see?" Alec is fully aware of the empathy that is apparent to the man, and Varian just smiles softly, his left hand moving from the air beside Alec's face too resting on his cheek. His thumb brushing along the cheekbone found there.

Varian's voice is just as soft, a delicate brush of sound over the silence in the air. "Love." It is a simple one worded answer that makes Alec blush unabashedly.

Alec leans down, kissing him softly on each cheek, before pressing a kiss to eager lips. "Come eat, tell me about your work." The moment that Alec spoke about work, Varian started to protest, "I want to hear about it, I promise."

Varian's mouth shut with an audible click and he nodded watching closely as Alec's hands left his waist, reaching for his hands instead and pulling him carefully towards the stairs.

Despite the return of his magic so suddenly, Varian still had a deficit in his physical health. His hearing returned without fail, but the strength in his legs is still lacking. He takes his time climbing the stairs, holding Alec's hands as though it were a lifeline.

The feeling that floods him when he reaches the top is solely relief. He smiles brightly to Alec, his eyes lighting up when they land on the beautifully decorated table.

But Alec is frowning, his eyes focused solely on the candles that had blown out in the slight wind. "Damn." He mutters, releasing Varian's hand and searching for a lighter in his pockets.

"I've got it Darling." Varian steps forward, watching closely as Alec pulls out a chair for him. Varian sits, smiling across the table as he lifts his hands towards the candle.

Varian snaps his fingers, and Alec watches with the same bright eyes he always has when it comes to Varian's magic as the smaller man's thumb catches on fire. He lights each of the candles with little hesitation, the fire glowing in a bright white light that seems almost supernatural.

Alec visibly does a double take. "Is that-" He trails off.

"Heavenly fire?" Varian is embarrassed to finish the sentence, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks down at his lap. "Yeah, I- I didn't mean to do that."

Alec laughed, a genuine soft laugh that started in his chest and bubble through his lips, influencing Varian to do they same.

When silence fell, it was a delicate kind that felt peaceful. Alec smiled as he looked down at his plate. "Izzy chose and Magnus delivered." His hand found the wine bottle easily, delicately pouring a glass for each of them as if he had practiced.

Varian had a sneaking suspicion that he had in fact practiced, but he didn't comment on it. But rather lifted his glass to Alec, the bells of each glass clinking lightly against each others. "To the future?"

It's said as a question, and Alec just smiles and blushes. "To the future."

They both drink, and Alec can see the smile in Varian's eyes as he does.

It is peaceful.