Hiding

Chapter eight

"Good morning." Alec says and sips his coffee when Magnus finally enters the hotel restaurant where a delicious breakfast buffet is waiting for them. Magnus yawns and drops down on the chair opposite Alec. "Did you sleep alright?" Magnus holds up his hand in front of him and shakes his head. "You didn't sleep alright?" Alec asks, trying to interpret Magnus' sign language. The hand shift into just one finger, which Magnus places in front of his lips. "arh, you want me to shut up. Not a morning person I see." Alec grins. Finally, he is capable of annoying Magnus a little. "I was actually thinking we could go over the plan for the day..." but before Alec can finish his sentence, Magnus grabs Alec's cup out of his hands and proceeds to drink his coffee. "ooo-kay..." Alec reaches over to get the cup back, but Magnus leans back, just out of reach. "You do know you could get your own cup, right?"

"Why?" Magnus responds sleepily "this was already here."

"Oh, it speaks." Alec tries to get the cup back once more, unsuccessfully. "But you see, that one is mine."

"Don't care..." Magnus says and proceeds to drink. Sighing, Alec gets up.

"Fine. I'll get another one." Then he walks over to the buffet and fills another cup of coffee. Since he is already standing, he decides to fill up a plate with eggs, bacon and pancakes.

As soon as he sits down, Magnus picks a piece of bacon off his plate. With a sigh, Alec pushes the plate over to Magnus then gets up and fills another plate. As soon as he sits down, he sees his coffee is gone and Magnus is happily sipping at his cup.

"Seriously?" Alec says and Magnus smirks. "You could just have asked me to refill the cup."

"What's the fun in that?"

Alec shakes his head with a tiny smile on his lips. He has actually come to enjoy this little banter they have going.

"I guess there wouldn't be any." He says and goes to refill his cup, yet again. "Anything else you might need?" Alec asks before sitting down.

"Maybe some milk... for the coffee." Magnus smiles broadly at him, and Alec just laughs and retrieve the milk for Magnus.

"Satisfied?"

"Almost..." Magnus says.

"What else could you possibly need?" Magnus doesn't say anything, only raises one suggestive eyebrow, glances towards Alec's lower body and then winks with a grin on his face. "Don't start that up again. You promised. I watched your goddamn movie." Alec quickly responds and shifts slightly in his seat. Trying to ignore the heat that is beginning to spread in his body.

"Did you? Because I seem to recall that you turned it off."

"Because you fell asleep."

"Still... my promise doesn't count until you've watched the entire movie."

"We'll continue the movie tonight." Alec groans, definitely not looking forward to seeing the end of the movie.

"Great. Then I have all day to tease you."

"It is going to bite you in the ass at some point..." Alec mumbles.

"You promise?" Magnus smirks. "I do enjoy biting."

"Jesus Christ..." Alec rolls his eyes at Magnus. "This is going to be a really long day."

"I think its going to be a great day!" Magnus exclaims.

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"What's that?" Alec asks when Magnus joins him at the car.

"What's what?"

"That." Alec puts a finger under Magnus' chins and angles his face. "Is that makeup?"

"Actually, it's just eyeliner but I know what you mean."

"Makeup... Eyeliner... isn't it just the same thing?"

"No. Makeup can be a lot of things. Eyeliner is just eyeliner." Magnus bats his eyes at Alec, "do you like it?"

"Why are you wearing it?" Alec ignores Magnus' question completely.

"Because I like it," he pouts, "and you didn't answer my question."

"Does it matter?"

"Of course, it doesn't. I'm just curious. Besides, I like kicking the box you so proudly put yourself in."

"What box?" Alec opens the door for Magnus to at least get him inside the car.

"The I-don't-like-when-things-isn't-traditional-box." Magnus uses air quotes on the word traditional.

"I don't put myself in..." Alec gestures towards Magnus, "that kind of box."

"Of course, you do. Evidence A - You commented on my eyeliner."

"Because I haven't seen you wear it before."

"Evidence B," Magnus continues "you don't like movies because they are Unrealistic." Air quotes were used once more alongside an eyeroll. "And lastly, evidence C - You try to act straight when it is so goddamn clear that you are queer." Magnus grins. "Sorry for the rime."

"Listen closely, Magnus." Alec says as he gently pushes Magnus inside the car and then walks around to his side and gets in. "I don't care about your makeup - sorry eyeliner - and movies are unrealistic." He sets the car in motion. "And for your last so-called evidence, I don't pretend to be straight. You don't see me running around with women. I just don't act gay either." He looks over at Magnus who is smiling slightly at Alecs words. "And that is the last I want to talk about that."

"Fine." Magnus smirks. "But do you like my eyeliner?" He bats his eyes at Alec again.

"Oh, dear lord. I give up..."

"So, you don't like it?"

"I have no opinion what-so-ever about you eye-thingy." Alec gestures towards Magnus' face without removing his eyes from the road.

"But do you think I'm pretty?" Magnus asks with puppy eyes.

"Jesus Christ, Magnus... why do you keep pushing that goddamn question?"

"Initially, it was just to tease you. Since this might be my last day to do it and all, but now I just really want to know. You did just officially come out to me, so I figured, why not find out what you type is." Magnus smiles innocently.

"I don't have a type. And I didn't come out to you."

"Everybody has a type..." Magnus places his hand on Alec's to get his attention. "And you did come out Alec." His voice has changed slightly. He isn't teasing Alec anymore. He seems genuine. "I'm proud of you."

For a while Alec doesn't speak. He is just looking at the road ahead trying to collect himself. Magnus is right. This is actually the first time Alec has said it to someone who isn't his siblings. He swallows thickly and casts a quick glance at Magnus.

"Thanks."

For a time, they drive silently, listening to music that hasn't been picked out by Magnus, much to Alecs delight. Just as Alec starts to enjoy the drive Magnus turns towards Alec.

"You still haven't answered my question," he says.

"I swear to God, Bane... if you ask me that one more time, I will drive this car into a fucking tree!"

"I'll just take that as a yes, then."

Alec rolls his eyes and turns up the music loud enough to drown out anything Magnus might be saying. Never in a lifetime will Alec ever answer that question out loud. Never! But internally? Yes. He finds Magnus very beautiful. With or without makeup.