Bridges Of Time

Chapter 5

Summary:

Alec snaps at Magnus.

2004
Cooperstown

Magnus stirs awake, his head nestled against Alec's carpet. The afternoon sunlight has shifted, casting long shadows across the room. He blinks groggily, taking a minute to make sense of his surrounding, realizing he had dozed off in Alec's bedroom. Alec is sat nearby, working on their project possibly, a concentrated frown on his face. Magnus rubs his eyes, disoriented, and then suddenly tenses as he realizes that sleeping away in the middle of the day is a not a luxury he can afford being his father's son.

Panic surges through him and he sits up abruptly. His mind racing, his thoughts drifting to all the worst case scenarios of the consequences of his actions. He shouldn't have fallen asleep, not here, not anywhere. The scuffle attracts Alec's attention.

"Hey, you're awake?" Alec says, with a small smile. Magnus' heart is pounding in his chest. He is in Alec's home, Alec's safe, warm and welcoming home. He let his guard, something he can never afford to do again. He blinks profusely, his mind racing with thoughts of Asmodeus, his disapproval and the consequences. "You looked like you needed the rest," Alec continues.

"What time is it?" Magnus demands, clearing his throat.

Alec looks up at his alarm clock by the bedside. "It's almost five. We still have plenty of time to work on our project."

"Five? Oh no, I can't believe this." He scrambles to his feet, hastily gathering his things from the floor.

Alec stands up following Magnus, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "What's wrong? Why are you in such a rush?"

Magnus can feel his hands shaking as he shoves his notebooks into his bag, "I am so late. I shouldn't have fallen asleep. You should have woken me up, Alec!"

Alec reaches out, trying to calm him. "Magnus, it's okay. You were probably really tired and you dozed off. It's fine. We have made great progress in the project and you needn't—"

"Progress?" Magnus snaps. "You don't understand!" He pulls away. "I can't just nap in the middle of the day. I have things to do, make good use of my time—" He stops, breathing heavily. "I should have never decided to come here. You have no idea what it's like—"

Alec looks confused, "I am sorry I was just trying to help."

"Help?" Magnus scoffs bitterly, "You think letting me sleep in your room is helping me? How? Why do you have to ruin everything for me? You think your life is so perfect and you can just... offer that to everyone else?"

Alec swallows. He has no idea where this conversation with Magnus is headed. "I never said my life was perfect, Magnus. What are you saying? I didn't even think this was such a big deal. I thought you were probably tired and that's why you dozed off," he lets out a shaky breath. "I am really sorry but I didn't mean—"

"I can't afford to waste my time, Alec," Magnus' voice cracks. "But you won't get it. You live in this perfect house, with your perfect family. You don't have to worry about...about..." he trails off, unable to finish his thought.