Chapter Text
“Go away, Chris, I’m busy,” Magnus sighed, not looking up from his designs as a shadow fell onto his sketchbook. He knew without looking up who would dare bother him while he was so obviously hard at work on a piece of genius. Alexander had worn this dark blue shirt the other day, and it made his blue eyes practically shine and his dark hair stand out even more and he’d basically looked like an angel and had served as inspiration for Magnus’ next clothing line. And he needed to get it down on paper while the vision was still fresh in his mind. Everyone else he worked with had learned early on not to disturb him while he was in the process of creating. Why couldn’t this guy figure it out?
“It’s Craig,” the annoying voice replied. Magnus rolled his eyes, still not looking up from his sketchbook. This kid was so annoying and far too short and blonde and was ruining his creativity and was… not Alec. He didn’t stand a chance in hell, so there was no point leading him on. And he was so determined to win Magnus’ affections, that Magnus knew even blinking at him would give him hope… poor kid.
“Ok, Charles. Run along now,” Magnus murmured, squinting at the page as he erased the sleeve of the dress shirt he was sketching- too many ruffles, not enough glitter, he decided.
“I was just wondering if you’d like to go out for a drink sometime,” Curtis, or whoever, asked.
“No thanks, Crepe,” Magnus said, still looking at his sketchbook as he penciled in his new ideas.
“But why not? It’s not like you have a boyfriend,” Craig argued, petulantly.
And there was an idea…
“I do, actually,” Magnus said, nonchalantly. What would a little white lie hurt? Especially if it would make Craig leave him alone and let him get back to work.
“Then why haven’t I heard of him until now?” Craig asked, still annoying persistent.
Magnus sighed and set down his pencil. He obviously wasn’t going to get any good work done while Craig was pestering him. Magnus rolled his eyes and finally turned to face Craig. “You have. His name is Alec. Now if you’ll leave me to get back to my work.”
“Alec?” Craig asked in surprise.
“Yes. Alec- surely you’ve heard me speak of him before.” Magnus knew that was at least true. It was pretty much common knowledge that he was in love with his best friend. He wasn’t subtle when he talked about Alec and all of his friend’s accomplishments and jokes and quirks and their adventures together… anyone with eyes could see his true feelings for Alec. Ragnor and Catarina had been teasing him about it for years. So if he was going to drop a believable name, there was only one person it could be. Alec.
“Right…” Craig murmured, then sighed and walked away. Magnus smiled to himself, pleased that his plan had worked. And now that he had taken care of Craig, he could finally finish this design. Their runway show was coming up in just a few weeks and he had to get these designs finished so the production team could start creating them and fitting the material to their runway models, which he would obviously have to oversee every step of the way, while meeting with clients and working on even more new designs and attending work functions… there was just so much work to be done- he couldn’t afford any distractions.
Magnus was so caught up in his work that he didn’t notice the increasing stares and whispers directed at him as the news of his relationship spread. It was no secret that Magnus was in love with his best friend- anyone who had ever heard him talk about Alec knew. It was obvious in the way his eyes lit up and the affection in his voice when he spoke of his best friend. So needless to say, the news of his relationship with Alec was hot gossip.
About an hour later, Magnus was finally packing up his stuff, ready to call it a day. He had dinner plans with Alec to get to (he had dinner with Alec every night, but that didn’t mean he could miss it or be late). Dinner with Alec was the highlight of his day. He was stopped by a group of his co-workers on the way out, before he could make it to the door.
“Congrats, Magnus.”
“I’m happy for you, Magnus.”
“Is it true, Mr. Bane?!”
“We’re so proud of you, Magnus!”
Magnus’ confusion grew and grew as more people patted him on the back and shook his hand, congratulating him as he made his way past desks, slowly moving through the crowd toward the door.
Magnus’ brow furrowed and when he finally made it to the lobby, he opened his mouth to ask the receptionist just what the hell was going on, when his phone started vibrating in his pocket.
So you finally grew a pair. Congrats on asking out Alec. –Ragnor
OMG OMG OMG MAGNUS! I’M FREAKING OUT! YOU AND ALEC! FINALLY! CAN I BE GODMOTHER TO YOUR CHILDREN? –Catarina
Does this mean I can stop listening to you whine about Alec all the time? –Raphael
OMG Magnus I am so excited! Call me when you’re off work! I want to hear all the details about you and Alec –Clary
Magnus’ head was spinning. How… what… why… Fuck. Magnus was about to call Clary and ask her how she’d even heard the rumor, and quickly resolve this little mix-up. He couldn’t have his friends thinking he and Alec were together… god, that’d be embarrassing. But at that moment, he heard his name being called by the last person he wanted to see- his boss, Penelope.
“Magnus! Step into my office. Don’t think you’re leaving today without telling me all about this new beau of yours,” Penelope said, grinning like the cat that got the cream.
“Penelope- there’s been a misunderstanding. I just said that to-” Magnus began as he followed Penelope into her office, but she cut him off the second her door shut.
“I am so pleased to see you following your heart. I worry about how hard you work, that you’re not taking time for your own personal interests,” Penelope said.
“Penelope, I’m finding balance just fine,” Magnus argued. “This is a mist-”
“And now that you’ve put your playboy ways behind… oh, you’ll make us look so good in the spotlight. Like Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka; happily settled and committed,” Penelope beamed. “Oh, I didn’t want to say anything before, but no one likes a player. But a man in love… the clients will eat that up.”
“Penelope, I-”
“You must bring your Alec along to the runway show. I’ll add him as your plus one to all the events we have coming up, as well. I’m sure he’s bound to be handsome- oh, the clients will just love him. And then they’ll love you. Which means they’ll love us!” Penelope exclaimed in excitement.
“But-”
“I won’t hold you hostage any longer. You go home to you beau,” Penelope said, opening her office door again in dismissal.
Magnus gaped back at Penelope in shock, shaking his head while he tried to figure out just what had happened. He stumbled out of her office and through the lobby, where the receptionist smiled and winked at him, and he received a few more pats on the back on his way to the elevator, then finally made his way outside.
It seemed that news of his relationship had well and truly spread, not just through the office, but through the whole company and among his friends. It was only a matter of time before Alec heard about it. Magnus couldn’t let that happen. He had to get to Alec first.
He would rush straight home and drag Alec to dinner. He would explain there. He would explain everything and set it all straight. He’d just tell everyone at work that he and Alec had broken up. And he’d explain to his friends how he only said he was dating Alec to get that creepy co-worker of his off his back. Yes, everything was going to be ok.
Except… everyone seemed to happy for him. And Craig would be right back on his case the second he found out that he and Alec were “over.” And Penelope had been so pleased with him, and what a relationship with Alec would mean for his image.
And a relationship with Alec… it was everything Magnus had ever dreamed of.
No. Bad Magnus. This was a horrible idea. This would end in disaster. Alec would figure him out and he would embarrass himself it would cause confusion and blurred lines and heartache… no. No no no.
But… being with Alec. Getting a taste at a relationship with the man of his dreams. Getting the chance to show Alec what an amazing boyfriend he could be… even if it was all pretend. God, that was too tempting to resist.
Could they even get away with that? Pretending to be in a relationship.
Yes, Magnus realized. Yes, they really could. Alec knew Magnus better than anyone else in the world… apart from realizing that Magnus was head over heels in love with him… for which Magnus was grateful Alec remained blind. And Magnus knew Alec, knew every quirk, weird character trait, understood every joke that no one else seemed to understand or find funny. He knew Alec. They could do this.
They could fool everyone. And they could be together, even if only for a little while. Even if it was all only pretend.
Magnus took a deep breath as he found himself out of Alec’s apartment door, the walk home flying by, Magnus was so deep in thought.
He had to make a decision. He either had to tell Alec what had happened and reassure him that he had a handle on it and was fixing it… or he could get Alec to play along.
Magnus took another deep breath, then nodded his head before opening the door to Alec’s apartment, his mind made up.