Boylesque (🇬🇧)

Enjoy the small (big) things

"You are so quiet today."

Alec looked up from the chopping board lying on the worktop in front of him and glanced over at Maia. She was melting the leftover ice from the night before in the ice bins, a fine line separated her eyebrows. An obvious sign that she was worried.

"As though I normally talk a lot!" Alec replied evasively, filling up the last bowl with chopped fruit they would need for the evening. His hands were sticky from the fruit juice, so he went over to the sink to wash them.

"But you're particularly quiet today. You've barely exchanged three words with Bat or myself, and you seem totally absent," Maia responded.

Alec leaned against the counter and dried his hands with a towel. He had spent the last half hour (actually the whole day) thinking about Magnus and himself and the conversation they'd had yesterday morning.

Alec was glad they had talked. Dancing around each other and the elephant in the room had almost led them into disaster. Now they both knew where they stood and what they could expect from each other. They had finally laid their cards on the table for one another to see.

Alec wasn't going to get what he actually wanted, not entirely. However, he wouldn't give up hope entirely. Not yet. Maybe something more than just friends with benefits would develop between them over time. Until then, though, he would enjoy what Magnus was willing to give him.

Alec respected Magnus' boundaries. He wholly understood why the burlesque dancer was not yet ready to become involved in something new or serious. Although he had not been able to gain any insight in this regard yet, he could imagine that it took time to completely cut the ties to a failed relationship. And from what Magnus had told him and the way he had reacted, the relationship with Camille had been more than just a brief liaison.

Alec was resolved not to push or rush Magnus, and give him all the time that he needed to heal. If he could help in that respect, even if that's only being a means to an end, he would accept that. At least for now. After all, they had agreed to be open and honest with each other, and that was how Alec would handle this new thing between Magnus and himself.

He would be tender and respectful with Magnus' trust and intimacy, just as Alec knew Magnus would be with his. Alec trusted him on all the levels that connected them now. He also knew that Magnus was not ready to return that trust, not completely, letting down all the barriers he had built up around his heart. He accepted that, too, hoping with all his heart that that would change one day.

Alec hadn't fibbed when he'd told Magnus that he would do everything in his power to show him just how rewarding a new journey could be to embark upon, though it may seem terrifying at first. He had experienced it himself just a few weeks ago, albeit under slightly different circumstances, so he knew fairly well what he was talking about.

"Alec! Yoo-hoo, earth to Alec!"

Alec blinked dazedly. Maia was standing directly in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked. One of her eyebrows raised, and her gaze clearly indicated just how irritated she was with his behaviour.

"It's nothing," Alec replied, hanging the towel back in its place next to the sink.

"Come on, don't lie to me. You've just been staring into the void for a solid five minutes."

Alec pursed his lips.

"Well..." he began, but then stopped himself. Magnus and he hadn't talked about whether they wanted to keep their "relationship" confidential or not for the time being. Well, they wouldn't be able to keep it completely secret. After all, they had made it more than clear a few days ago at the Pandemonium that something was going on between them. However, Alec didn't want anyone to know what path they had taken from there. Not because it made him uncomfortable. No. He wanted to protect Magnus. It would certainly raise some interesting questions, and he had the impression that Magnus was far from ready to answer them quite yet.