Bridges Of Time

Chapter 7

Summary:

Things get heated up between Alec and Magnus.

2004
Idris High, Cooperstown

Alec and Magnus are nestled in the corner of the school library, their books and papers spread out around them. It's been a few hours of intense discussion on the spread of Black Death along the Silk Road trade routes, with the both of them anxious and nervous. The conversation eventually flows into the advent and spread of Roman Empire and the impact of the trade routes on its expansion. "This keeps stretching like a chewing gum, Alexander," Magnus exasperates, looking at the sheets of papers scribbled with research.

Alec turns around and takes a look at the papers, dropping his forehead on his palms dramatically. "Should we not have chosen this topic?" He groans.

"Alec, shut up!" He huffs out an annoyed but nervous breath. This anxiousness is grappling Magnus all the same, but he doesn't need Alec to remind him. "We can sort this out. Let's not panic." He swallows, propping himself up on his knees to take a more focused look at their research and how to concise it. "I am sure we can do this."

"The last time someone said this to me, I ended up kissing him in this very spot," Alec absent-mindedly divulges. Magnus flicks his head in Alec's direction, letting out a soft gasp. He can feel heat rush up to his cheeks. He probably could pretend that he didn't hear Alec's confession, but he knows his eyes will give away the truth pretty easily. "I'm so sorry, Magnus. That was really inappropriate." Alec realizes the awkwardness of the moment and shifts away from Magnus to replace some distance between them.

Magnus bites his tongue. "It's fine, Alec. I know what it's like to blurt the first thing that comes out of your mouth. Done it way too many times myself." Why did he say that? Also, who is Alec talking about? Who did he kiss in the library. They've been in the same class for over three years now. Is it someone Magnus knows? Why does this not feel good.

Alec looks away, nodding. "Yeah, but I'm still sorry this was so inappropriate."

"Alexander, I understand." Magnus says, his enthusiasm an attempt to overcompensate for the awkwardness that has befallen their conversation. He fiddles with his pen, and then clears his throat. "So who was it?" He can't help but ask. Shut up, Magnus. Shut up.

Alec swallows, "I can't tell you that." Of course he can't, and Magnus shouldn't have asked that question in the first place.

"No, of course. I'm sorry I asked." Magnus ducks his head, carefully avoiding Alec's gaze.

"Is it weird? This conversation... I mean." Alec notices Magnus' evasion.

"Why would it be weird?" Magnus snaps his gaze at Alec.

"I mean," Alec sighs. "I haven't never hidden who I am from people here, but I understand that it might be awkward to have a conversation about this... to you...know..."

"Alexander, you're never going to say that again," Magnus warns, his voice soft with concern. "Nothing about liking someone or falling for them should ever be weird or awkward. I don't care what people think. You can be honest with me, always," he emphasizes. "Unless of course you fall for a serial killer or a criminal. That's kind of a gray area," he tries to lighten up Alec's mood.

Alec snorts. "Noted. No serial killers or criminals then."

There's a moment of silence as Alec contemplates changing the subject back to their project when Magnus speaks up again. "I dated a boy once," he opens up, and Alec's eyes widen with curiosity. As selfish as it sounds, that's an answer he's been seeking for a few days now. "It was before my Dad and I moved to Cooperstown, right after Amma passed away. I was in a vulnerable space, and Imasu was wonderful. But I had jumped into a relationship that was never meant to work out, and it didn't."