Standalones

The Little Things

"I hate everyone," Alec groans, flopping down on the couch face first, right beside where Magnus is sitting.

Magnus hums, patting Alec's shoulder and switching off the TV. "Hello, Alexander"

Alec doesn't look up, he just slides in a better position on the couch, curling himself in and pillowing his head on Magnus' thigh. "Mhm"

"College?"

"hate that place"

"I know," Magnus replies, all of his attention on Alec now. He had expected him to come home tired after the frustrated texts he got through the day. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Alec shakes his head, feeling Magnus' fingers run through his hair, humming at the feeling. "Later. I want to nap"

"Okay," Magnus replies, smiling at his boyfriend's sleepy voice. He has heard it countless times over the course of the past year, yet, it never fails to melt his heart.

Alec's dark curls fall over his eyes, eyelashes flickering and the motion of Magnus tucking them behind his ear. His lips are chapped and slightly swollen today, probably because of him anxiously biting them - Magnus sighs when he realizes.

Then, Magnus notices his boyfriend's posture, the way his body seems stiff, almost uncomfortable.

"Alec?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you still wearing your binder?"

Alec exhales a breath, not replying.

"You're going to wake up sore," Magnus tells him, "And you have archery with Biscuit in the evening. Wearing your binder already restricts your movements, and you don't want--"

"Magnus, I know," Alec says, and starts to sit up. "Sorry"

"You don't have to apologize, darling," says Magnus, "I say this for your own good"

Alec rubs his hand along his face, feels his energy drain out of his body. Honestly? He just wants a hug and cuddles right now. He hates having to get off the couch and leave Magnus' warmth, missing the feeling of Magnus playing with his hair already.

"I know," Alec replies.

Magnus gives him a smile, and Alec's stomach flips at the way the older man's eyes light up. It's been a year since they became roommates, and yet, Alec has never been able to shake off the feeling he gets whenever he sees Magnus like that small, soft expression on his face.

Maybe because Alec has been in fucking love with Magnus ever since he saw him.

"Take off your binder, and have a nap. I'll wake you up by 6," Magnus tells him, standing up from the couch and going to the kitchen, probably to make himself lunch.

"Thank you," Alec says

Magnus turns and blows him a kiss, which Alec pretends to catch with a tired, outstretched arm.

Alec never really thought that he'd be here when he was first looking for houses. His only requirements were a cheap rent, a separate bathroom and a roommate (if any) who wasn't transphobic or homophobic.

Then, he saw the flyer of this apartment.

And then, he met Magnus Bane.

This apartment was a walk away from Alec's college, the rent was not cheap, but affordable, and Magnus was... well, Magnus; a free wheeling bisexual, who doesn't care about anything (until you wear acid-washed jeans, that is)

Alec didn't know he needed Magnus, until he got him. And now it feels scary because of how much he has gotten so used to him.

Back in his room, Alec takes off his binder and places it on his chair. Then, he writes a "WASH BINDER BEFORE ARCHERY" on a post-it and pastes it on his night stand. It's a hack Magnus came up with a while back - leaving post-its for themselves - because both of their ADHD asses tend to not remember shit at times.