True Love Never Dies

Casual Affair

Alec walked up to the door of Taki's and peered inside through the window. He didn't know why he was so nervous. He didn't even know who his date was. He looked down at the dark blue shirt Izzy made him get because it "matched his eyes".
He had to admit, he looked pretty good. Alec brushed his hands against his black jeans and sighed. It was now or never. He pushed open the door before he lost his nerve. His eyes sweeped the restaurant for his date. After a minute or so, he gave up and took a seat at the bar by a man sitting close to the end. On second glance, he noticed it was Magnus. Magnus noticed him as well and smiled.

"I seem to remember you telling me you weren't much of a drinker."

Alec smiled. "I'm not. I'm actually here for a date, but I don't know who it's with."

"I'm here for a date as well." Magnus said.

"Small world," Alec shrugged.

Magnus looked at Alec a moment before speaking. "How about we ditch our dates? I'd much rather be with you."

"Sounds like a deal," Alec replied.

Magnus grinned. "So how did you like my party?"

"I normally don't like going to parties, but I enjoyed this one. I think it was mostly because of you, though." Alec said truthfully.

"Well, any time you're in the presence of Magnus Bane a good time is guaranteed."

"How about you keep good on that promise tonight?" Alec said boldly. He didn't know where this sudden confidence was coming from.

Magnus grinned. "It's your funeral," he said as he flagged the bartender so he could order a round of drinks.

*********

Magnus was enjoying himself way more than he should. Alec had loosened up after a few drinks and was telling him a hilarious story about him and his sister.

"You should've seen his face. He looked horrified," Alec said and Magnus chuckled. It was silent for a moment before Alec spoke again. "I like being around you," he said and the way Alec looked at him was too tempting to resist.

"I like being around you too," he said. He smiled on the outside, but on the inside he was banging his head against the bar table. He had begun to realize that if he gave Alec an inch, he would have come in and take his heart completely. And he couldn't have that. He couldn't go through heartbreak again.

"Wanna get another round?" Alec asked.

Magnus looked at Alec. "You read my mind," he said and flagged the bartender.

**********

After quite a few more rounds of drinks, Magnus knew he had to get out of there before he did something he'd regret. But he couldn't will himself to get up and leave. He could blame it on the alcohol, but he knew it was something else entirely. It was something about Alec that made him want to spend the rest of the night, and his life, with him.

"Hey, you wanna go? It's getting kinda late," Alec asked.

Magnus could tell just by looking at him that he didn't want to go either. But he knew it was time to go. "Yeah, you're probably right," Magnus said. Alec got up first, and Magnus followed Alec's lead out the door. He stopped once they were on the sidewalk and turned to look at Magnus.

"I had a great time tonight," he said.

Magnus smiled. "I had a good time, too," he said. He stared at Alec for a moment. He was so handsome, he just couldn't help himself.
He brushed his lips against Alec's and kissed him. He hadn't meant to. In fact, everything inside him was telling him otherwise. But, he was doing it anyway, and when he finally willed himself to break away from the kiss, he wanted nothing more than to kiss him again and again, until both their lips were numb. Then, he made the mistake of looking at Alec. He was looking at him with such love in his eyes, like he was thinking the same things he was.  But, he couldn't do this. He just couldn't. "Goodbye, Alexander," Magnus said, and walked away before Alec could say anything else. Because then, Magnus would have to look at him, and Alec would see the tears spilling onto Magnus' cheeks.