Magnus doesn't, though; he's distracted by the kiss and by the thought that he hasn't really had an adult in years. Sure, he's maybe old enough not to need one, now, and he hasn't really been in the market for one in ten years, but also... Hearthstone and Blitzen are great, and he loves them, but now that he's an einherji they're more friends than his inexplicable street-uncles, and they've never been touchy-feely, just attentive and helpful.
It's only now, being held by an adult-shaped adult who feels like a real adult to Magnus -- rather than a god, or an ageless einherji, or someone who's just a friend and who maintains careful friend-shaped boundaries -- that he lets himself acknowledge that he wants one. Even his dad is at a remove: Magnus may be semi-immortal now, but dead demigods don't make it into legend as beloved children of their parents. Frey is a better dad than the rest of the gods, but he can, at best, be described as 'occasionally helpful, and with a calming aura.' Frey might have the best, most peaceful and summery energy of anyone in the world, but that doesn't mean he's involved.
Lan Wangji's energy is different. It's no less peaceful -- there was a reason Magnus wondered, briefly, if he might be a god of peace -- but it's cooler. Quieter. Less eau de unbridled natural growth. More... steadfast, and reliable, and committed, and sharp, like curling up with a good book on your favorite bench on a beautiful winter day.
Magnus is a decisive guy, when it comes to picking his people. He's been a little slower about it in the past six-odd weeks, because the shorthand he's grown familiar with (battle companion/comrade in arms, helpful on a quest, runs away from certain death with him) is so much harder to parse here. He's picked Galahad, though; even though they spar somewhat regularly (read: Galahad wipes the floor with him over and over while Magnus tries to learn), Galahad is the first friend he's made since childhood without any kinds of prophecy-strings attached. He's picked Shen Yuan, too, and he's pretty sure he's picked Gu Xiang even though her friendship is a lot more like the ones he has with his hallmates (he loves, and misses, his violent and unpredictable hallmates). He likes almost everybody he's met, except Lancelot; he doesn't even have particular issues with Luo Binghe outside of the weird dream thing. He's pretty sure he could pick any of them. All of them, even, once he starts to relax into figuring out his role here better.
He's picking Lan Wangji. He doesn't have to tell him yet; Magnus knows he moves fast when he makes up his mind about something. He does wish there was a term, for an uber-adult who is an adult to you even though you're grown up too, who's soft and holds you when you're sad and strokes your hair and actively listens to you ramble instead of thinking about his own things. He knows what he wants that word to be, too, even though he's had bad experiences with most of the people who fit into that label before: family.
He keeps it to himself, this bright hope that's been kindled in his chest, burning away some of the darkness of the day. He snuggles against Lan Wangji's chest. Family, he thinks, trying the word on like an old well-worn sweater, seeing how it fits.
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It's only now, being held by an adult-shaped adult who feels like a real adult to Magnus -- rather than a god, or an ageless einherji, or someone who's just a friend and who maintains careful friend-shaped boundaries -- that he lets himself acknowledge that he wants one. Even his dad is at a remove: Magnus may be semi-immortal now, but dead demigods don't make it into legend as beloved children of their parents. Frey is a better dad than the rest of the gods, but he can, at best, be described as 'occasionally helpful, and with a calming aura.' Frey might have the best, most peaceful and summery energy of anyone in the world, but that doesn't mean he's involved.
Lan Wangji's energy is different. It's no less peaceful -- there was a reason Magnus wondered, briefly, if he might be a god of peace -- but it's cooler. Quieter. Less eau de unbridled natural growth. More... steadfast, and reliable, and committed, and sharp, like curling up with a good book on your favorite bench on a beautiful winter day.
Magnus is a decisive guy, when it comes to picking his people. He's been a little slower about it in the past six-odd weeks, because the shorthand he's grown familiar with (battle companion/comrade in arms, helpful on a quest, runs away from certain death with him) is so much harder to parse here. He's picked Galahad, though; even though they spar somewhat regularly (read: Galahad wipes the floor with him over and over while Magnus tries to learn), Galahad is the first friend he's made since childhood without any kinds of prophecy-strings attached. He's picked Shen Yuan, too, and he's pretty sure he's picked Gu Xiang even though her friendship is a lot more like the ones he has with his hallmates (he loves, and misses, his violent and unpredictable hallmates). He likes almost everybody he's met, except Lancelot; he doesn't even have particular issues with Luo Binghe outside of the weird dream thing. He's pretty sure he could pick any of them. All of them, even, once he starts to relax into figuring out his role here better.
He's picking Lan Wangji. He doesn't have to tell him yet; Magnus knows he moves fast when he makes up his mind about something. He does wish there was a term, for an uber-adult who is an adult to you even though you're grown up too, who's soft and holds you when you're sad and strokes your hair and actively listens to you ramble instead of thinking about his own things. He knows what he wants that word to be, too, even though he's had bad experiences with most of the people who fit into that label before: family.
He keeps it to himself, this bright hope that's been kindled in his chest, burning away some of the darkness of the day. He snuggles against Lan Wangji's chest. Family, he thinks, trying the word on like an old well-worn sweater, seeing how it fits.