life together.

one shot? just idiots being happy

Alex shuffled through the building, flipping on hallway lights as she made her way to the roof. She trudged up the stairs, ignoring the sounds of sleeping patrons in the rooms around her. For now. Up and up and up she went, pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders. Finally she pushed open the glass door to the balcony where he sprawled on the lounger. Grinning and pulling out a Sharpie, she edged closer and closer. Just as she was about to turn him into a cat or something, he shot about five feet into the air and backwards, toppling over the chair in the process. She cackled like a mad woman as she watched him pat himself all over and check his face in his phone camera.

"You caught me, Magnus," she said, taunting. He shot her a glare.

"Yeah, I don't know whether I trust that."

She capped the marker, stifling more laughter. She waited until his panic seemed to subside, then grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door.

"Time to open up, Sunflower," she said, waiting to see how he'd react to his latest nickname.

"Sunflower??" He looked utterly bewildered. She grinned wide and sharp.

"Yeah, like Rapunzel. Flower gleam and glow." She ruffled his blond hair. He set his jaw and let out a puff of steamy air through his nose.

"Let's go open up," he said. Alex grinned even wider. She raced down the stairs, darting through the kitchen and grabbing yesterday's trash. Out she barreled into the gleaming cold sun, unlocking the gate and flipping around the "We're Open!!" sign. She walked out and put the trash in the dumpster. A dusty gray kitty bumped up against her legs. She pulled out a treat from her pocket and offered it to him. She sighed.

"I can't pet you, I have to go make sure Magnus doesn't drink all the Guava juice."

The cat brrp-ed agreeingly and stalked off to find something else to do. Alex started to tick off each of the things they needed to do. The bathrooms needed cleaned, and they needed to get some Guava juice from the store... so many things to do. But, first, breakfast! she thought.

Alex started back up towards the house, and just as banged closed Alex was a guy walking up to meet Magnus in the kitchen. Magnus had gotten out a pan and oiled it. He peered into the dining room, seeing about four or five guests there. He pulled out a dozen eggs and cracked them all into a bowl. After adding a few shakes of pepper, salt, and onion powder and garlic, he turned on the stove and began to beat the eggs. He put in a splash of milk and then set the bowl down to start the coffee pot.

He caught a hungry look from one of the guests and decided to speed things up. He turned the heat on the pan up and popped the toast into the toaster. Magnus was sipping coffee, staring at a wall, but Alex noticed the way the floor was clean and the counters clear where they hadn't been a moment ago.

He smiled to himself and poured the eggs into the pan. After a moment, he stirred with a spatula to keep the eggs from sticking. Soon enough the toast was done and he signaled to Magnus to start the plates. Paper plates were pulled from cabinets, cups filled with coffee, toast buttered and egg scooped onto toast. Alex put out six plates, which were snatched up quick, and another half dozen as the toast finished. He started a new batch of eggs, continuing this way until half an hour later when everyone had finally been fed. He collapsed on the floor, more dramatic than exhausted, but exhausted none the less.

Magnus sat down beside him and gently wrapped an arm around his waist.

"I think the coffee kicked in," he said. "What should I do first?"

Alex laid his head on Magnus' shoulder.

"Hold me for a minute." He grinned.

Magnus stared at the wall some more, seemingly happy to oblige. That haunted look filled his eyes, but Alex knew he was probably thinking about something random, like if he could get another cup of coffee or what Blitzen and Hearth might be up to.

After a second Magnus blinked and pulled away.

"I've got a gift for you," he said, turning to face him. Magnus pulled out a couple bracelets, one pink and one green, made of stretchy string and plastic beads. "They're pronoun bracelets, so I can use the right ones without even asking. I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to-"

Alex stopped him with a kiss. It was one of his favorite things to do, especially because of the look on Magnus' face afterwards.

"You usually get it right, anyways," Alex said. "Somehow."

"Yeah, but I'm a little tired of the teasing from when I don't."

"That's still going, teasing is fun."

Magnus gave a small sigh, apparently resigned. Alex put them on, hiding the green one under his sleeve and the pink one out in the open.

"Pink is for he/him days," Alex said. Magnus nodded, then shuffled back into place next to him, this time with both arms around his waist.

After so long, Alex was finally able to accept physical affection from Magnus. He couldn't quite tolerate anyone else unless he was the one initiating, like holding some poor kid who needed to cry. It was nice, and Magnus was there to give it whenever. It was really nice.

Alex snapped back to reality and started thinking about what needed to be done. Luckily, Odin's lawyers took care of the paper work as an ongoing gift, but the non-legal upkeep was still their own department.

"Hey, babe, I think today we need to grab some Guava juice from the store." Magnus' old uncle had left some in the house and they tried it and actually liked it. It was probably the only thing either Alex or Magnus had in common with the guy.

"Yeah, it's also bathroom day, and I think Jones really has moved out so we should probably clean his room."

Alex glanced at the time. It was ten-o-seven. Three more minutes and then they'd get started.