#so it is nice to sit and listen to Alec make them sound like idiots on livestream

[borom1r]

watching an RN debate TERFs is always a wild fucking experience

[raindancer2004]

Ducks

Word Count: 1,642 Felix x reader Oneshot Warning: Fluff, NSFW

NSFW Prompts: Hiii can I request a #35 from the prompt with Felix 🥰 For @fanfictionillustration​

Y/N and Felix have been together for nine months but have only been intimate for the past few months and it’s always the same; missionary, nothing more, nothing less. Felix refuses to try any other position with Y/N whenever she asks. “Please Felix. Let’s try something new” Y/N suggested as she looked into the lust blown eyes of her mate “No Y/N, I could hurt you, kill you even” Felix replied sounding frustrated “Fine. I’m no longer in the mood” Y/N responded and entered the bathroom closing and locking the door behind her. Felix heard the bath taps come on a few moments later.

“You know you could at least try to make her happy and try something new. I mean oral wouldn’t kill her” Alec said from the doorway “Get lost” Felix growled and Alec laughed “I’ll tell you this, if she was mine, I’d try anything she wanted…at least once” He winked at Felix and ducked just in time as Felix threw his shoe at him. Alec walked away laughing to himself. 

Y/N went shopping with Heidi and Chelsea and decided to buy some sexy lingerie. She purchased a green lace bra and matching panties as green was Felix’s favourite colour. She also picked up a set in Y/F colour “Oh Y/N, Felix is going to love you in those” Chelsea smiled at her ‘I doubt that he’ll even wanna see me in them’ she thought to herself. “Here, this will look good on you” Heidi said as she handed Y/N a blue-green silk baby doll, Chelsea whistles “Damn girl, you’ll look so good in that.” Y/N felt her cheeks heat in a blush “Thank you” She mumbled and the two female vampires chuckled.

A few days later whilst Felix was on duty Y/N paid Demetri a visit “Hey Dem, can we talk?” She asked as she entered his room “Of course Y/N, how I can help?” “Felix. He’s…he’s pissing me off if I’m being honest” She slumped down on the sofa, Demetri coming to sit beside her “What’s the big idiot done now?” He asked “I have…needs and well…he isn’t meeting them” “Ah ok. Well, I’m not on duty tonight so I could always…” He smirked trailing off and giving her a playful wink, she chuckled “Don’t tempt me” Her response surprised Demetri a little “Tell me the problem darling” He said softly, all teasing put aside for now. 

“Felix is so…vanilla” “Blunt I like it” Demetri replied and bit his lip to stop himself from laughing “Don’t get me wrong Dem, I’m not asking him to go all 50 shades on me or anything but a different position once in a while would be nice” Demetri nodded and she continued “He won’t even let me give him a blowjob. I mean how’s that gonna hurt me Dem?” Y/N asks “I don’t know darling; Felix is a weird one. I mean when he discovered porn, he almost had a heart attack. He’s a vampire. Vampires don’t have heart attacks” She laughed “Has he ever given you oral?” He asked “Nope” She popped the ‘p’ “Wow!” Demetri shook his head in disbelief “That is vanilla” “I know. Tell me about it” She replies and thinks for a moment before continuing “Give me some ideas on how I can spice things up between Felix and I?” 

“Have you tried sexy lingerie?” She nods “Ok, here’s an easy one, ask him if you can be on top, that way you’re in control Y/N” He added and she nodded again “You could try being tied down and blindfolded whilst he gives you oral and he could leave you tied down whilst he makes love to you” “That sounds like a good idea” She replied smiling and he nodded “Let’s practice asking what you want. Remember to sound confident darling.”

A few moments passed before she spoke again, however in the meantime Demetri had caught Felix’s scent and knew he was approaching his room. Y/N’s voice broke the silence “I’d like to try something new with you” Demetri nodded “I’m listening” “I’d like it if you would tie me down and blindfold me whilst you give me oral, followed by you taking me a little rougher than usual” She added and took her bottom lip between her teeth “Let’s pick a safe word” Demetri replied but before Y/N could answer Felix threw open Demetri’s door, it hit the wall with a loud bang startling Y/N; even Demetri was caught off guard.

“What the fuck Felix?” Demetri asked and Y/N moved closer to Demetri on instinct. Felix didn’t answer him, just growled at them both. “You’re coming with me little one” He picks her up off the sofa and puts her over his shoulder. Once back in their room he drops her on the bed “Stay there” His voice sounding gruffer than usual and makes his way into the closet to retrieve the items needed. 

He returns a few moments later with a blindfold and silk ties “You got a safe word?” He asked with a growl “Yes Fe” She replied and watched in anticipation as he put the blindfold over her eyes and gently secured her wrists to the headboard using the silk ties. “You’re mine Y/N and I’m going to fuck you until my name is the only name you remember. Is that clear?” She nodded “Words Y/N. Use your words” He growled again “Yes” She replied answering his previous question. “Good girl” His voice softer this time.

Felix swiftly removed his clothes throwing them on the bed beside Y/N and then removed her green lace panties. He dips his head between her thighs “So wet already” He smirked “I’m half naked and judging by what I just heard you’re naked. I know how good you look naked” She licked her lips and felt his lips wrap around her clit, sucking harshly and flicking the bundle of nerves with his tongue. One hand moved to her hip to hold her down as she attempted to grind against his face.

He slipped two fingers inside her and began moving them in and out of her, preparing her for his long thick cock. He made sure his fingers brushed against her inner walls and went deep with every thrust. She felt the familiar knot building in her abdomen as his tongue and fingers work together to bring her to climax. “Ahh…Fe…” He purred against her and she writhed beneath him as the vibration of his purr rippled through her. He bit her clit before continuing to suck and flick at it harshly, the knot broke and she came hard “FELIX” She cried out “That’s it little one, tell them who you belong to.”

He removed his fingers from her and tapped her bottom lip, she opened her mouth “Suck them clean Y/N” He ordered her and she obeyed, a soft satisfied moan leaving her lips as she tasted herself on his fingers. He kissed her neck and ran one hand up her leg, over her stomach going upwards to cup one breast; massaging it in his large hand letting his thumb to brush her nipple.

He lined himself up with her entrance and pushed inside her in one long deep thrust. He didn’t give her time to adjust to him, he just began thrusting in and out of her at a fast pace. She bit her lip to hold back a moan and felt his breath on her ear “Don’t you dare Y/N! I want to hear every moan, every cry of pleasure. I want you screaming my name as you become a dirty little mess beneath me” He flicked his hips forward and thrusted in hard and deep “Y-yes Fe-Felix” She stuttered her reply and he smiled against her neck before letting his teeth graze her pulse point.

He left opened mouthed kisses along her neck working his way down her collarbone to her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth sucking harshly as he rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger. Y/N didn’t hold back, she let every mewl, every cry of pleasure leave her lips.

“Faster Felix please” She begged him and he sped up his thrusts and continued to suck her nipple whilst playing with the other. She felt the knot return and tried meeting him thrust for thrust but he had gotten a bit too carried away after sensing she was getting close to climaxing again. His thrusts were a little too fast, a little too rough, but in a strangely pleasurable way.

“DUCKS” She cried out and he froze “What?” “Ducks” She repeated and he looked confused “That’s my safe word” She explains to him as he removes the blindfold. “Not funny Y/N” Felix replies and sees the smirk appear on her lips.

“Oh that’s where you’re wrong Fe. It’s bloody brilliant” Demetri called out through their shared wall having heard her scream “Ducks.” “Fuck off D” Felix growled back, earning a chuckle from Y/N.

“I’ve hurt you. See this is why I didn’t want to do this with you whilst you were human” “You didn’t hurt me Fe…not really” “Then why did you use your safe word?” He asked concern showing in his eyes “Because I knew that you wouldn’t do this with me again until after I’m turned and I wanted to use my safe word whilst I’m still fragile enough to need one” She replied with a smile and he shook his head chuckling “Naughty little human” “I’m your naughty little human” She smiled at him and he leant down and captured her lips with his as he untied her wrists. “I love you Y/N” He said softly as he looked into her eyes again “I love you too” She replied and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down for another kiss.

[silver-lily-louise]

Novelty

‘You come in here, with your brand-new magic and your flirting – what, like you care about me? Like I’m not just the blink of an eye, now that you’ve got your magic back? Now that you’ve got centuries again?’ Magnus risks letting out a tendril of magic, resisting the urge to groan at what he finds - because he’s a damned idiot, and this time, it might just get him killed. 

Set between 3x14 and 3x15. Magnus pays Alec a visit during a very bad day at the office.  (Slight non-con warning: see AO3 notes for details.)

Read it on AO3, or below!

~oOo~

The fire message from Alexander is unexpected, but welcome, and Magnus smiles as he puts down his book of Tennyson poetry. ‘Apologies, Chairman,’ he says, moving the cat off his lap and rolling his eyes at the complaining mroww he gets, as if Magnus has just dropped him fifty feet onto concrete instead of moving him a matter of inches onto the other couch cushion so that he can swing his legs around and stand up. ‘Yes, all right. Take it up with the one who summoned me.’

He twists his arm in his usual flourish – ignoring the brief throb of a headache, it’s fine, it’s an adjustment period is all – and steps through the portal, straight from Alec’s bedroom and into his office. ‘Well, this is a lovely surprise,’ he purrs, walking over and looping his arms around his boyfriend’s neck. ‘Did you need something? I wasn’t expecting to see you until dinner time.’

‘No, I’m on a coffee break and just wanted to see you – I wasn’t expecting you to portal over here so quickly,’ Alec says mildly. ‘Didn’t fancy the walk?’ ‘Says the man who sent a fire message from one side of the Institute to the other,’ Magnus teases. ‘Besides, what’s the point of having magic if you don’t use it?’ He steps forward, until the warmth of Alec’s chest against his can chase away the nagging anxiety in his lungs, can quell the rebellious spark that he knows has made him more magic-dependent in the last few days, after spending far too long feeling so weak without it. ‘And for another thing,’ he says, snapping his fingers with a smirk, the lock on the office door audibly clicking. ‘What was it you said the other day about enjoying every moment?’

‘Right,’ Alec says – and he looks a little distracted, but before Magnus can worry too much about that their lips are suddenly together, and he mentally shrugs, waving it off as telegraphed intention and closing his eyes, leaning into the kiss with a pleased hum. Alec walks them across the room, Magnus stepping backwards trustingly, assuming that they’re heading over to the small couch for a comfortable place to sit – And immediately being proved wrong as Alexander pulls away from the kiss, Magnus’ eyes flying open in confusion and displeasure. ‘Alexander, is something wrong?’ he asks, stepping forward –

And stumbling as he runs into an invisible wall.

He looks down at his feet, the outlines of a now-activated containment circle glowing a faint red, and his heart sinks even as he looks back up at Alec, a thread of anger pulling his expression taut and controlled. ‘Alec, what the fuck-‘ ‘Quiet,’ Alec growls – and Magnus obliges, because if he talks again it might move his adam’s apple further into the seraph blade that’s suddenly pointed at it. ‘You come in here, with your brand-new magic and your flirting – what, like you care about me?’ Alec huffs an unimpressed laugh, and Magnus’ stomach turns because something is horribly, horribly wrong. ‘Like I’m not just the blink of an eye, now that you’ve got your magic back? Now that you’ve got centuries again?’

He turns away, stalking around the circle – and Magnus risks letting out a tendril of magic, resisting the urge to groan at what he finds because he’s a damned idiot, and this time, it might just get him killed. Because this isn’t Alec, and if he’d walked in here with his own magic instead of the sorry, half-fitting replacement Lorenzo gave him, he’d likely have known it the second he walked in. Now that he’s actively looking for it, the brief trail of possession in the air is almost painfully obvious.

He swallows, trying to keep himself calm. Stall. ‘That’s not true,’ he insists, warily keeping to the opposite side of the circle from Alec, as far away as he can get in the limited space. ‘And if you were yourself right now, you’d know that. I love you, Alexander.’ ‘No!’ – and there’s the seraph blade at his throat again, flickering a little rosily with the demon’s influence, and Magnus has the bizarre thought that this is what comes of dating someone so tall because Alec doesn’t even have to step into the trap to reach him, can stay outside of the circle and remain invulnerable to Magnus’ magic. Alec’s expression crumples, and if the situation were different, it would twist Magnus’ heart to see. ‘Am I even gonna go in your box?’ Alec whispers. ‘Why would I? A Shadowhunter, a descendant of the Circle; someone who’s fucked up at every damn opportunity and cost you everything, more than once.’ He laughs, and it’s a broken, mangled thing, his blade shaking as he withdraws it once again. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. This isn’t real, is it? That’s why you haven’t called it off – because it doesn’t matter, because it’s not a relationship. I’m just something for you to play with until the novelty wears off – in a decade or two, if I’m lucky.’ His eyes harden, his posture turning stiff and angry. ‘Well, you know what? I’m done with it. I’m done letting you use me like that.’

‘That’s not true,’ Magnus says again, well-aware that he sounds a little desperate now but fuck it, he’s losing him – and with a silenced, locked door between him and help, and Magnus’ new seed of magic still too weak to break out of this trap, talking’s the only that might, maybe, get them both out of this. ‘Alexander, please. Listen to me.’ He keeps his voice encouraging, gentle – he’s not afraid to be on the verge of begging, if that’s what it takes. ‘You’re not a novelty. You’re not just something to pass the time. Think about it for a moment; we’d only just had our first kiss, and when Valentine’s men descended, I surrendered, because I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. Or how about when your soul got lost in the parabatai bond, before we’d even had our first date?’ Alec’s looking at him again, now, and Magnus steps forward a little, encouraged. ‘You must remember me saying how Raj tried to stop me, tried to make me leave? I attacked him, Alexander. I might have killed him if I had to, because all I wanted was for you to be safe.’

He smiles, not fighting the tears that spring to his eyes, because gods, if he screws this up, he’s dead and Alec won’t be much better off, devastated by a guilt and a grief Magnus knows intimately and wouldn’t wish on anyone, let alone his Alexander. ‘Whatever that voice in your head is telling you, Alexander, it isn’t real,’ he implores. ‘This is real. We are real. I haven’t stood by you throughout our hardships because you’re temporary, I’ve done it because I love you.’ He lets out a long, shuddering breath, forcing himself to open his arms in a gesture of trust, of welcome. ‘Please, Alexander. Fight this. Come back to me.’

Something flickers across Alec’s expression, and Magnus’ heart skips a beat. But then Alec is shaking his head, drawing back the blade, and shifting his stance in a way Magnus has seen too many times not to recognize as going in for the kill. ‘No,’ Alec says – and there’s no hurt or doubt, now, just anger and determination. ‘I’m done being some fleeting amusement for you. And you’re gonna regret not taking me seriously.’

The blade flashes and Magnus somehow finds a smile, tries to find the words for I’m sorry and I love you and I forgive you – And then there’s a splintering sound behind him and a blur in front of him, a dagger sinking into Alec’s wrist and the seraph blade dropping from his grip as he howls in pain – and then there’s someone at Magnus’ side, ripping another blade through the containment circle and gods, Magnus never thought he’d be so happy to see Jace Herondale as he is right now. ‘Thank you, Blondie,’ he says – and then he’s pouring all of his fading adrenaline into his magic, forcing Alec down to his knees and holding him fast and safe.

His captive struggles for a moment; but then his face clears from fury into a smug smile, his eyes flooding with black as the demon drops the charade. ‘If I go, I’m taking him with me,’ it hisses. Magnus can practically feel Jace tense up beside him, but he pushes down his own instinctive thrill of fear in favor of an eye roll. ‘Nice try, but you’re nowhere near that powerful,’ he scoffs. ‘And I’ll be taking my boyfriend back now.’ He twists his hands, and grins as he feels the demon give way, its attempts to hold on inside Alec futile. ‘Buh-bye.’

Gray smoke billows into the room, blinking into existence around Alec – and with another lazy wave of Magnus’ hand it’s turned to ash a moment later.

He drops to his knees, taking the weight as he lets the magic go and Alec slumps forward, unconscious. ‘I’ve got you,’ he whispers; and he closes his eyes, allows himself just a moment of relief because it’s over. ‘I’ve got you. It’s all right.’ A quick magical scan reveals no injury – besides the wrist, of course, which he quickly heals – and so he takes a deep breath and stands the both of them up, glancing over when Jace silently slips under Alec’s other shoulder. ‘Excellent timing on your part,’ he comments, summoning a portal with his last scrap of energy and swiftly dismissing the swell of irritation at how easily his magic drains itself these days. ‘I’m guessing you felt the possession in some way?’ ‘Not exactly,’ Jace says, pausing for a moment as they step through into Alec’s room, and between them get him laid out on the bed. ‘I think I felt a bit of it, but mostly, what got my attention was his reaction – you know, underneath it, the real him that was trapped behind what the demon was doing.’ ‘Oh?’ Magnus asks, taking a seat up by the headboard and resting a hand in Alec’s curls, pleasantly grounded by the touch. ‘Yeah,’ Jace says, and when Magnus looks back up at him, he’s caught by a grave, intense gaze. ‘I haven’t felt fear like that from him since the day the Soul Sword went off.’ ‘…Oh.’ Magnus nods slowly, the weight of that not lost on him. ‘I see.’

Jace nods back in acknowledgement, gently clapping Alec’s shoulder as he gets up and heads for the door. ‘I should probably go tell Izzy what happened,’ he says. ‘Let us know when he wakes up, okay?’ ‘Of course,’ Magnus says, and then Jace is gone and he’s alone with Alec once more.

With no-one left to hide from, he closes his eyes, and waits for the ringing in his ears to go away.

Judging by the light in the room, it’s not long before there’s a shifting at his side, and Magnus opens his eyes again. ‘Alexander?’ he calls softly, leaning forward and twisting until he’s facing his boyfriend, one hand cradling his face as the other reaches out for one of Alec’s hands. ‘Are you with me?’ Alec’s face scrunches briefly – and then his eyes squint open, his mouth twitching up into a half-smile. ‘Hey,’ he mumbles. Magnus’ relief bolsters his exhaustion, but it’s welcome nevertheless. ‘Hey. How are you feeling?’ ‘Fine,’ Alec says; and Magnus lets him get away with the white lie, doesn’t even comment when Alec sits up and immediately winces, blood rushing away from an abused head and through muscles that must be aching. ‘What happened?’ ‘What do you remember?’ Magnus says, in lieu of an answer.

Alec frowns. ‘I was in my office?’ He looks back at Magnus – and that must be enough to trigger some kind of memory, because his face instantly falls, shock draining his color, worried hands reaching out and stopping just shy of touching. ‘Oh god, it – Are you okay? Did I hurt you?’ ‘No, no, I’m fine,’ Magnus says, smiling as if to prove it, holding up a hand to forestall any other concern, the other briefly cupping Alec’s jaw in a gesture of reassurance. ‘Everything’s okay, I promise. I’m guessing you remember the possession, then?’ ‘Only – only bits and pieces,’ Alec says, reaching out and lightly skimming a hand over Magnus’ arm. ‘How did you…’ ‘Jace,’ Magnus supplies. ‘Thankfully, I hadn’t magically sealed the door, only locked it. He broke in just in time.’ ‘Just in time,’ Alec echoes, and he lets out a deep breath. ‘I’m so sorry.’ ‘You don’t have to be,’ Magnus says firmly. ‘It wasn’t you.’ ‘I know,’ Alec says unconvincingly. ‘But still, what I almost did, what I must have said-‘ ‘-Was not you,’ Magnus insists. ‘It was a demon twisting perfectly natural, harmless insecurities. That’s all.’ And he believes that, honestly, knows how possession will drive the tiniest grievances to outlandish extremes. But he’s not infallible, either, and he can’t quite help reach for his own reassurance even as he silently chides himself for doing it. ‘After all, I’m fairly certain you know that I love you, that you’re not just some distraction,’ he says quietly, glad not to be making eye contact anymore as he hears the levity fall flat. ‘Obviously, you must know how important you are to me, after all we’ve been through.’

It’s not a good piece of acting on his part, of course, and Alec sighs. ‘That’s what I said?’ He shifts a little closer, wrapping an arm around Magnus’ waist. ‘I’m sorry.‘ ‘Alexander, you don’t have to be, you don’t have to explain-‘ ‘But I want to,’ Alec insists. ‘Please.’ And Magnus isn’t sure he wants this conversation today, if ever – but it’s never been easy for him to refuse any request from a loved one, and so he nods.

Alec’s quiet for a moment. ‘I know that you love me,’ he says eventually, and something inside Magnus eases to hear that. ‘And I know that our – situation, our lifespans, don’t change that. It’s just… hard, sometimes. But it’s not on you to change anything,’ he adds. ‘It’s just something I have to wrap my head around. And it’s a good thing in a lot of ways, because I’m happy that you’ve been happy, you know? But that doesn’t stop the more… unhelpful feelings turning up sometimes, the – the insecurities, or whatever. Even though I know that what they’re saying isn’t true.’

He reaches over with his free hand and taps on Magnus’ thigh, asking for his attention, and Magnus obliges, turning back to face him. ‘I love you, and I know that you love me,’ Alec says again, a small, sad smile crossing his face. ‘That’s what matters. The rest is just… something that might take me a while to work through.’

Magnus returns the smile as best he can. ‘I know,’ he says. ‘And I’m sorry I tried to rush it, before, tried to – explain away your feelings. I suppose I was just… afraid.’ ‘Afraid?’ Alec prompts, gently. Magnus shrugs. ‘I owe more than a few goodbyes to this topic,’ he admits. ‘Not their fault, of course - it’s a lot for someone to deal with, whatever kind of relationship may have been between us. But that’s why I got – defensive. Because I was afraid that…’ He trails off – but thankfully, Alexander knows him well enough by now that he gets the idea. ‘You thought it would be ‘too much’ for me, too,’ he finishes. Magnus lets out a single breath of mirthless laughter, looking down at the light playing off of his rings. ‘I know that’s not a fair reaction, and I honestly wouldn’t blame you if that were the case. But – well. It’s no secret that the possibility of losing you doesn’t leave me at my best.’

‘Magnus,’ Alec says softly, and he doesn’t speak again until Magnus looks back up at him. ‘It’s completely fair for you to want someone to stick around, to accept all of you – and when it comes to this issue, I’m gonna be that person. You’re not losing me over this, I swear.’ His tone is even, his gaze sincere, and Magnus lets himself get lost in that certainty, just for a moment. ‘Whatever I need to sort out in my own head, I don’t want you to be afraid that I’m gonna leave you over it. Because I honestly don’t ever see that happening – for any reason.’

And it almost makes Magnus feel a little bad, because Alec’s the one who’s gone through something awful today, and yet he’s also the one supplying the comfort – but nonetheless, he nods, tries to take the much-needed assurance to heart. ‘Okay,’ he says quietly. ‘I’ll try and remember that.’ ‘Good.’ Alec smiles, wider and more genuine.

Magnus can’t quite return it, this time, he’s still too raw from the day they’ve had - so instead, he leans in for a kiss. It’s a better demonstration of how he’s feeling, in any case.

~oOo~

[faejilly]

i am for you (17/?)

We're back! And playing with the timeline a little... this goes back to before the fic itself starts, and then moves along a whole *six weeks* because this, my darlings, is a 5+1 chapter in the middle of everything else. (Because why not?) 5 Times Catarina Went to Brunch, and 1 Time Brunch was Brought to Catarina (ao3 / series tag)

*

1

Brunch is quiet this week.

No one's really got much to say.

Even Magnus just shrugs when Cat asks what he's been up to.

(Even Cat can't think up any fun Madzie stories; baby-girl's got a cold and this week has mostly been about tissues and soup and endless re-runs of Moana and Mulan and The Princess and The Frog. She even picked Tangled once, and Cat thought maybe they'd moved on... but then she went back to Moana. She always goes back to Moana. She once sang You're Welcome over and over again for the entirety of her bath.)

Ragnor drinks and Dot sighs and Raphael rolls his eyes at the lot of them. Tessa is looking forward to the ALA conference in two weeks, but she's quieter about her enthusiasms than the rest of them; her smile is warm, but it doesn't spark anyone else into anything.

Still, it's nice. Cat never thought a single one of them would ever be stable enough to fall into a rut, and the fact that they've settled into one together... there are worse things.

Besides, there are mimosas.

2

Magnus is... fluttering.

He's not upset, he sits and eats and passes the syrup when asked and talks about his classes, but there's definitely... something.

He pauses before he sips his drink, and he ducks Ragnor's half-assed question about his current research. (Ragnor just raises his eyebrows. He's not terribly interested in dramatic portrayals of the occult, but Magnus usually is, and the fact that he doesn't want to break-down everything he's read on the subject this week is a bit unusual.)

He zones out while Dot's talking about the idiot client she'd been fighting with the entirety of the past week, arguing with every suggestion as if he wasn't the one who'd hired her; Magnus doesn't even laugh at her petty revenge of charging her client an extra half-an-hour for "removing all those squiggly lines from under the words" in his word doc.

But there's a hint of a smile on his face as he looks out the window.

"What is going on with you?" Cat asks while everyone's gathering shoes and bags and saying their usual farewells.

"Nothing." Magnus shakes his head, and Cat frowns at him. "Really," he lifts his hands in defense. She waits. "Yet?"

He won't say more than that, no matter how much she gives him The Look, but that almost smile lingers, and she hopes whatever it almost is turns out as well as Magnus seems to hope.

3

Alec Lightwood is a revelation.

She's seen Magnus fall too hard and too fast before, but she's never seen him like this, never seen him look lighter for it rather than just more intense, never seen the person he'd fallen for look just as far gone just as fast. Alec's expression when he looks at Magnus is sublime, it's like he's smiling all the way to his fingertips, and she has to look away.

Which is admittedly a little easier once he gets his shirt on.

Magnus has excellent taste in arm-candy... even if it's blatantly obvious that this is more than that.

Already.

She wouldn't be completely surprised if they eloped to Vegas the first time they tried to take a vacation together.

She'll yell at Magnus for it forever, and hold his hand while he gets desperately drunk if it leads to an equally quickie divorce, but she won't be surprised.

Ragnor clearly likes and might even respect Alec, which is... weird. She's not quite sure what to do with that, and she keeps glancing sideways to share her what the fuck? face with Raphael, but he doesn't cooperate nearly as well as Dot or Tessa would have. He seems to be cautiously in favor of Alec too, which is... even weirder. There are days she's not sure Raphael likes anyone, except maybe Ragnor, despite eating brunch with the rest of them every week. But he's very over-protective of Magnus, usually, especially since Camille, but now... now he's just. Leaning back? Relaxed? Sipping his coffee?

Cat feels like maybe she fell through Alice's rabbit-hole and somehow didn't notice right away.

But then Alec snorts out a laugh at something Ragnor says in his usual bone-dry way, and Magnus sputters something that sounds like an honest to god giggle, and she gives up on understanding and goes to refill her drink.

Wonderland seems pretty nice, this time of year.

4

Cat gets to brunch a little early this week, before anyone else. Besides Alec, of course, who's cradling a mug she doesn't recognize in his hands, and she wonders how much of his own life this past week has been spent at Magnus' rather than his own place, wherever it is.

She ought to be worried about that, she knows, but he'd been so clearly smitten whenever she mentioned Magnus at their lunch, it's hard to hold onto any concern. He offers to pour her some coffee, and even remembers that she likes sugar but not cream, and she can't help but smile at him in thanks.

He smiles back, sort of, and she wonders if he's nervous about Dot and Tessa, or if it's something else that's bothering him, and if it would be terribly blunt of her to ask. Not that she's usually concerned about that, but he's new, and if she made him uncomfortable Magnus might murder her.

Or ban her from mimosas for awhile, at least.

Magnus comes fluttering in then, touching half the appliances in the kitchen as he wanders back and forth. She cuts her eyes back to Alec and is inordinately pleased by the way he ignores her entirely and instead reaches out to catch Magnus' hand when he tries to swan past him for the third time.

"Why are you nervous?" Alec asks, and Cat almost slips off the counter she's leaning against. So much for worrying about being blunt. "I'm worried your friends won't like me, but you don't have to worry about my parents until dinner time."

Magnus' mouth opens, then shuts, clearly slightly shell-shocked by the blunt as well, even though she suspects from how quickly he pouts that it isn't at all out of character for Alec. "I can't also be worried my friends won't like you?"

"You weren't this worried last week."

Cat blinks as she realizes he's right.

"You already knew Ragnor, and Cat will give anyone at least two chances to prove they're not an idiot, and Raphael hates everyone regardless, so there wasn't anything to worry about."

Alec tilts his head, half-considering and half-amused, and Cat can't hold in the laugh anymore, snickering over her coffee. "But you're worried about Dot and Tessa? Dot already feels bad about her accidental drama and won't make any more, and Tessa's the nicest person on the planet."

Magnus scoffs. "Tessa's all quiet and polite right up until you fail some internal judgement you didn't even realize she was making and then she very serenely ignores you so thoroughly you can feel it all the way back seven generations or so and you can never quite put the pieces of your self-esteem back together."

It's Cat's turn to tilt her head, because he's not wrong, though she hadn't ever quite thought about it that way.

Alec snickers that time though. "To be fair, the last seven generations of Lightwoods probably deserve that?"

Magnus rolls his eyes, and half-heartedly smacks Alec in the chest with the back of his free hand. "But you don't."

"Well if she's as smart as you all say, she'll know that, right?"

Magnus grunts, as if annoyed that he can't argue with that, and then the knocker hits the door, three quick hard raps, and Magnus slips his hand free, blowing a kiss in Alec's direction before he goes to answer it.

"At least you've got your shirt on, this time. Might help."

Alec chokes, almost spitting coffee all over his hands, and she's still laughing when Dot and Tessa make it into the kitchen to be introduced.

5

They make Magnus and Alec take them all out for brunch as punishment for getting engaged at first sight. (And also apparently moving in together, which Cat had strongly suspected the week before based on the mug, and the toothbrush and razor in the bathroom, and the boxes hiding in Magnus' office nook, but she makes them acknowledge it out loud before she'll sit down at the table with the rest of them. Ragnor snickers, and she wonders how long he'd known, and if he'd been planning on telling the rest of them if they hadn't figured it out.)

Tessa does, in fact, serenely ignore the both of them for about half an hour, while everyone else is ordering drinks and perusing the menu, and Magnus and Alec both visibly wilt a little.

They're also clearly holding hands beneath the table, which is unbearably sweet, and Cat kind of hates how un-surprised she is the more she thinks about it. They fit, and while Alec isn't anything like she would have pictured some ideal Magnus partner, she can't begrudge them for being happy to have found each other.

"You're idiots," she informs them after they've finally all ordered. "But you're adorable, and I'm very happy for you."

Alec ducks his head and looks perilously close to blushing again, but he's smiling.

Tessa's lips twitch before she lifts her glass. "A toast to the happy couple?"

There's a clink of glasses as everyone else agrees, and Cat's never ever in almost twenty years seen a smile like the one spreading across Magnus' face.

+ 1

Baby-girl's best friend Lizzy, who she usually goes to play with on Sunday mornings, has chicken-pox and does not want visitors. (Cat reminds herself to have Madzie tested to see if her antibodies are still up to par from her vaccination or if she should get a booster.) Which means Cat isn't going to brunch.

Magnus scoffs at that when she calls to tell him on Friday, and insists that brunch will, instead, come to her.

She's not sure that's a good idea, but she can't seem to figure out why not, and it's not like Magnus listens when he's sure he's being brilliant anyways, so she makes sure to let Madzie know that a bunch of boring adults are coming over, and that she'll help her set up her tablet so she can watch cartoons in her room just this once if she'd like.

"Can I have breakfast while I watch?"

Cat really ought to say no to that, because she's probably going to find Madzie sneaking snacks into her room for at least the next month otherwise... but the last couple days have been a bit much at work and she is too tired for that conversation, so she says yes.

Madzie fist-pumps to celebrate her victory, which is, of course, unfairly adorable. Cat hopes she doesn't try to talk Uncle Magnus into having brunch at their house every week in order to make this a regular occurrence.

Then again, for all Madzie likes Uncle Magnus, especially when he brings presents (which is almost always, they're both very fond of brightly colored plush animals and Madzie's collection is now very impressive), none of Cat's friends have kids of their own, so their conversations with Madzie tend to be pretty brief.

It should be all right.

Hopefully Alec won't be too intimidating. He is ludicrously tall, with those scowly eyebrows, and Madzie is still usually shy with new people. Cat will have to remember to introduce them carefully.

(She wonders, later, how she'd forgotten the man had at least six younger siblings; even if half of them were metaphorical, that kind of thing tends to have an effect on a person.)

Magnus and Alec show up before anyone else, carrying four bags of what she assumes is going to be breakfast. Madzie peers around Cat's legs, clearly hoping for her usual squishy from Uncle Magnus, but uncertain about the very tall man next to him.

Alec sees her, and smiles, something small but friendly enough that it makes Cat blink, and then he's down on one knee so he's at a much more reasonable height for a child, and Cat blinks again.

"You must be Madzie." Alec doesn't have either that bright condescension or the slightly formal stilted tone that most people get when talking to little kids, and he's just loud enough that his voice carries without it being obvious he's keeping it a bit quieter than usual.

To Cat's utter shock, Madzie steps out from behind Cat's legs before she nods. "You must be Mr. Alec."

Alec nods back, and to Cat's continued surprise Madzie keeps talking. "Momma said you're going to marry Uncle Magnus but I don't have to call you Uncle Alec yet if I don't want to."

Cat doesn't know whether to be impressed that she's talking to a stranger or slightly embarrassed at what she chose to say, but Alec just grins, bright and delighted, and Cat rather forgets to breathe. Madzie smiles back and takes a step forward, as if she can't help herself.

Alec waits until she stops moving before he answers. "I am going to marry your Uncle Magnus, but you don't ever have to call me Uncle Alec if you don't want to, even after we're married."

Madzie nods very seriously, as if she's considering that.

"Are you having breakfast with us?" Alec asks, his voice leading up like he's going to add more, but he stops when Madzie shakes her head very fast.

"Momma said I could eat in my room while I watch Moana!"

"That does sound like a lot more fun than listening to us talk."

"Did you want to watch it with me?" Madzie offers, and Cat has to swallow something like a squawk before it bursts out of her, because Madzie is never this comfortable around new people.

Alec leans a little closer, his voice dropping. "I did promise Uncle Magnus and your Momma that I'd help make brunch."

Madzie turns her head up towards Cat and Magnus, going full on puppy-dog eyes and pouting lips. "Please, Momma?"

Cat nods, rather helplessly, and sees Magnus looking about as shell-shocked as she feels next to her. It took ages before Madzie was all right being alone with him, and she's known Alec five seconds. To be fair, she's much more trusting and relaxed now then she was when Cat first adopted her, but... five seconds.

Cat blames that ridiculous smile.

"See!" Madzie turns back to Alec, rocking up on her toes. "Momma says it's alright!"

"Well, I'm certainly not about to argue with your Momma." Alec shoots a glance up at the two of them. "Let me know if you need our help with anything, all right?"

"Of course," Magnus answers when it becomes clear that Cat's not going to manage more than a nod, her chest aching a little at how easily he'd said our, how easily he'd included her daughter in... everything.

Cat turns very slowly to watch as Madzie drags Alec down the hallway to her room, and equally slowly to turn back towards Magnus, whose eyes widen at the sound of Madzie laughing loudly enough they can hear it clearly where they are.

"What just happened?" Magnus asks.

Cat shakes her head. "He's your boyfriend. Fiancé. I thought you'd tell me."

Magnus looks down at the two bags Alec left by the door. "She didn't even ask for her toy."

Cat leans over enough to look into the bag, and sees a small glittery white stuffed unicorn with a rainbow mane and tail on top of a mesh bag of fruit. She covers her mouth to muffle a snort of laughter. "Apparently Alec's even prettier than unicorns?"

Magnus laughs. "Well, I can't argue with that."

[4ever4lonew1dowsclu8]

Jealous - Alec Lightwood

A/N - Been busy with life but I’m back baby :D Hope this is everything you wanted and more <3

T/W - Adult themes, sexual assault

----------------------------------------------------------

“Come on Y/N! Keep up!” Your best friend Alec was stood in front of you, sweat glinting off his athletic form, a cheeky smirk on his face. You may have a slight crush on him but you weren’t gonna let him know that.

“I’m comin’, I’m comin’. We can’t all be half-angel fitness buffs.” You knew you looked a mess, sweat on Alec looked hot, sweat on you made you look like a lumpy dumpling. Alec tried unsuccessfully to hide the smile that lit up his face.

The two of you were climbing to your secret treehouse. It was just outside of the city. It wasn’t really a treehouse, just a giant tree with a hole in it. Together, you had decked the hole out with blankets and pillows. Whenever things got too hectic at the Institute the two of you would escape to your hideout. 

Everyone had told you how Alec normally never mixed with mundanes but when you’d met him a year ago, after meeting him through Simon, he had been enamoured with your, what he called “sparky-ness”. He found Clary’s attitude grating but on you, he found it adorable. 

When you finally reached your little safe space, you stopped to catch your breath before laying out the picnic you’d packed at home. The two of you spent the next few hours just talking and laughing about anything and everything. 

The conversation turned to the topic of dating when an attractive runner gave Alec a suggestive up-down look. You joked about Alec ignoring them, suggesting that maybe he knew he didn’t have enough game. 

“I have more than enough game Sparky! You’re the one who hasn’t been on a single date since we met!”

You knew that it was true but you weren’t about to tell him that it was because he’d had your heart the moment you laid eyes on him.

“Yeah, well Simon set me up with one of the guys from Magnus’ apartment block, I’m going out with him tonight once we get back!”

You hadn’t meant to tell Alec unless things got serious but at that moment you wanted to make him jealous.

“We better not stick around here then, pack up and I’ll take you back so you can get ready.”

This was not the response you expected. You didn’t know what you expected but it definitely wasn’t acceptance. It almost felt like he was rushing to get you on this date. You watched as he started packing up the blanket and leftovers, your chest felt tight and your stomach dropped. 

“Yeah, I guess.” You sighed as you got up and dusted yourself off.

The walk back to the Institute was awkward, you didn’t know what to do, things had never been awkward. Several times you opened your mouth to talk but nothing seemed appropriate. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Alec do the same thing. Clary was waiting outside, a glint in her eye, obviously Simon had told her about your up-coming date. 

“A little birdy told me that you’re going out tonight!” She ran up and started dragging you inside. “Alec you can drop that stuff inside, I’m going to go get this goddess all dolled up.”

Alec just grunted in acknowledgement before sulking off to the kitchen. You turned to follow Clary, knowing that if you weren’t careful you’d end up tripping while she pulled you further inside. As you both entered your room, there was Isabelle, make-up brushes at the ready. You had helped both these girls get ready for dates in the past and now they were going to help you.

Despite being with two of your closest friends, you couldn’t muster any excitement as they offered different outfit choices. You saw Isabelle giving you a look, you’d never told her or Clary about your crush but you suspected they already knew. 

“Alright, sit on the bed.” You did as you were told. Clary climbed on behind you and started brushing and playing with your hair. “What’s wrong? Only this morning you were grinning away about this date and now it feels like we’re dressing you for your execution.”

Silence seemed like the only option. How could you explain that you were upset over her brother? Upset over a boy who you had no romantic connection with. It sounded stupid, even in your own head. Logic and reasoning was normally your strong suit. The hurt you were feeling was not logical. 

“It’s Alec isn’t it?” You couldn’t meet her intense gaze but you nodded none-the-less, there was no point trying to lie to Isabelle. “That idiot! What did he say? If he was mean to you, I swear I will beat him from here to London.”

You started to cry, prompting both girls to wrap their arms around you, both muttering about the unthinkable things they were going to do to Alec.

“No, no. It’s not that.” You managed to splutter out in between sniffs. “If anything, he was nice about it.”

Isabelle and Clary both looked very confused but didn’t say anything. Clary just continued to stroke your hair while Isabelle held your hands. You explained what had happened at the picnic, how you had wanted to make him jealous, how stupid and hurt you felt when he seemed indifferently accepting. As you talked Clary continued braiding your hair and was just tying it up by the time you’d finished rambling. Isabelle just looked thoughtful, nodding every so often to let you know that she was listening. There was a beat of silence while Isabelle decided what to say.

“Alec is my brother, but you are my friend, Y/N. I will not let the fact that he is my brother affect my advice. In all honesty, I always thought there was more than just friendship between you two, I knew you’d both figure it out eventually. Maybe it’s just taking Alec a little longer to figure it out.” There was a look in her eye you couldn’t quite place. “We’ll make him realise what he’s missing out on.”

With a sly little smile, Isabelle got to work.

An hour later and you had been pushed and pulled into a person that you barely recognised. The dress you were wearing was one of your favourites, a white skater dress with cute bell sleeves. Nothing too extreme, the dress gave a gentle angelic vibe that made it seem like you were glowing. The make-up highlighted your eyes, framing them with a thin black line. A soft pink lipstick turned your lips into a perfect little rose. Isabelle and Clary nodded in appreciation, a little self-serving but you couldn’t help but smile at your two best friends. 

“If my idiot brother doesn’t take right there on the dining room table, then I will.” Isabelle threw you a cheeky little wink, which made you and Clary giggle. 

This was it. You were all dressed up and now you had somewhere to go, and it was terrifying. What if Alec didn’t care? You took a deep breath and steadied yourself before walking out to the main living area. 

“Good luck!” A chorus of well-wishes followed you out the door. 

You knew Alec would most likely be sat with the boys so you lifted your head a little, stuck out your chest and swayed from side to side. As you entered the room, you heard the appreciative murmurs from Simon and Jace, you smiled slightly and flicked your hair, enjoying the attention.

“Whatever.” You looked over to see Alec intently staring at the TV. Simon had obviously tried to get his attention, but he wasn’t interested. Like that, your chest deflated and your face dropped. How could he not care? 

“I guess I’ll see you guys later, I guess.” You gave a small wave and turned quickly to make sure they didn’t see the tears in your eyes.

It was only going for a few drinks, you didn’t have to stay for long so you tried to muster a little enthusiasm for the guy standing in front of you. He was relatively attractive, you had to admit he was exactly your type and Simon had made a good choice, but he wasn’t Alec. 

A few drinks in and you felt your face flush, the guy had put his hand on your leg, he had told you his name but you hadn’t cared enough to listen. He took the lack of protest as a sign of encouragement, inching his hand higher to under your skirt. You swayed on your seat and leant towards him, hoping leaning against him would stop the spinning. It didn’t feel like you’d had too many drinks but the room was blurry and you struggled to keep yourself upright. His breath felt too warm and too close for comfort, his hand on your thigh got tighter and suddenly you didn’t feel very safe. 

“I wanna go home.” It took a lot of effort but you managed to get out those few words. “Take me home please.”

You hated how quiet and weak you sounded. He stood, putting his arm around your waist to keep you steady. While you appreciated the support, it made you feel uneasy. The walk back to the institute was slow and filled with not so subtle “accidental” grabs. 

The big doors soon came into focus and they’d never looked so good. The walk home had helped to clear your head slightly, your mouth still felt very dry, but that was probably just the nerves. 

“This is me. Thank you for walking me home.” You stopped and turned to face your date. He took a step closer. You stepped back and were horrified to feel the iron of the door handle press into your back. 

“Aren’t you going to let me inside?” His hands migrated south from your waist. You gasped when he grasped your backside. 

“I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.” You heard the stutter is your voice, you didn’t sound very convincing.

“You didn’t say no when I felt you up earlier. Your such a little tease.” One hand uncupped one of your cheeks and moved up to brush your hair from your face. He slowly pushed down one of your sleeves, exposing your bare shoulder. 

“Please don’t.” Fear filled your voice. Your legs shook, fear mixed with alcohol was making standing a difficult task. 

“I’m not asking.” His leg pushed between yours. Suddenly, the dress that made you feel so confident earlier made you feel open and exposed. One hand pushed your body into his while the other pulled your mouth forward.

You couldn’t let this happen, your first time wouldn’t be with some creep! Adrenaline filled your body. You turned your head just as his lips connected with yours, smudging your lipstick but you didn’t care. Using all the strength you had left you pushed him away, turned, opened the door and snuck inside before he could realise what had happened. 

You leant against the door, your head was still spinning but the cool wood helped. You kept your eyes closed while you caught your breath. You were glad it was late and everyone was in bed, this was humiliating. 

“He was that good was he?” You spun round to see Simon with a smug grin on his face. 

Alec was stood behind him, a face like thunder. That face was enough to sober you up entirely. You thought about how this probably looked, face flushed, heavy breathing, clothes coming off and lipstick smudged. The thought of what you just escaped hit you and before you could stop it, tears filled your eyes and you collapsed to the floor. 

Two strong arms engulfed you. You knew it was only Alec but you couldn’t help but flinch and push them away. Alec looked hurt and confused as you shuffled further away.

“What happened Y/N?” Simon was stood watching you. Alec tried to reach out to you again. You flinched when his hand touched your arm but you didn’t move it away.

You hiccuped and sobbed your way through the story. Alec’s rough yet gentle thumb gentle brushed your arm.  Even though you were horrified he saw you like this, he was still your best friend and his touch made you feel better. He didn’t say anything while you talked but you could tell he wasn’t happy. The thought that your best friend was angry at you caused the waterworks to double.

“I’m so sorry Alec. I was so stupid. I wanted to make you jealous and I lead that guy on and I’m so sorry. Please don’t be angry at me!” You threw yourself into his chest, not really realising what you just said. 

You turned your head to see Simon slowly edging out of the room. 

“I’ll give you guys some space.” 

It took a second for Simon’s words to make sense. You paled when you realised what you just said, you turned your head and buried it further into Alec’s chest, hoping that his silence meant he hadn’t heard.

“You wanted to make me jealous?” You felt the chuckle in his voice rumble through his chest.

“Don’t laugh!” His laughter hurt and made you angry. You pushed yourself away and turned your back on him.

“I’m such an idiot” He chuckled slightly.

“Hey! I am not!... Wait, what did you just say? Why are you an idiot?” You spun to confront Alec before you fully registered what he said.

“I’m an idiot because I was trying to make you jealous by being distant. I didn’t even think that it might have the opposite effect.” You stared at Alec, waiting for him to tell you he was just messing with you. Expecting him to make a horrible joke about how silly you were for liking him. But it didn’t happen.

You both stared, measuring the reactions of the other. Neither one of you wanted to be the first to break the silence. After what felt an hour you decided to take the plunge.

“So what? Does that mean you like me, like, like like me?” You felt like a child again.

Alec chuckled softly, brushing your cheek gently.

“Yes, I like like you.”

“Now what do we do?”

Alec pulled you towards him, encasing you with his arms and placing his chin on your head.

“Well, I’m going to put you to bed because you need it. Then tomorrow, how about we go get pancakes for breakfast.” That sounded perfect, you nodded against his chest. “This doesn’t have to be a sudden change, we can go on dates, take it nice and slow. We’re best friends and that doesn’t need to change.”

You felt so safe in his arms, you let your eyes close, enjoying the silence. Before you fully fell asleep, you heard Alec softly humming to himself while he rubbed your back. 

[malecsecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, @darque-essence!

Hope this is okay as I've only had about three days to write it! Happy Holidays!

For the last part of this fic, there is a reference to a song playing in the background. If you are curious, the song is "It's Been a Long, Long Time" by Kitty Kallen and I recommend listening to it while reading that specific part.

Read on AO3

*****

Snow Falls in Other Universes Too

“This is embarrassing.” Magnus groans, back plastered onto the rough ice.

If not for the utter state of disgrace he is in, Magnus would have appreciated the way the unusually blue sky is domed over him, only thin wisps of clouds tufted across the sky. His breaths materialize into puffs of condensation above him.

Alec looms into view, palms planted on his knees, trying to stifle a laugh.

“You’re doing fine.” He says, or tries to say nonchalantly, and of course he would say that, being the ever-so-charming captain of the varsity hockey team.

Aren’t jocks supposed to be dicks? Magnus blearily remembers one of his engineering friends lamenting on this fact after a pretty hopeless one-night stand with a guy from the football team. Also, she kicked the door right off of her mini-fridge in her ‘sorrow’.

“Alexander, the only other person on this frozen river who’s on her butt is that five-year-old.” Magnus says bleakly, refusing to move, “I’m not doing fine.”

Alec laughs, eyes crinkling, and Magnus watches the scene unfold before him like a flower in bloom. He is beautiful, Magnus thinks again, as if the thought hasn’t been thought before, like it’s freshy laid snow on the cold earth. Hair stuffed under a beanie, a scarf wound around his neck and tucked inside his winter jacket. Lips glistening with vaseline. He squats right next to Magnus’ sprawled form with no problem with balance at all. He ends up sitting right down on the ice, his knees pressed against Magnus’ side.

“You said you wanted to learn.” He chides, smiling, “It’s not going to be Michelle Kwan right off the bat.”

Magnus furrows his brow. “You know Michelle Kwan?”

“Of course I know Michelle Kwan.” Alec laughs. “I’m a hockey player, not an idiot.”

Magnus cranes his neck sideways to look at him part innocently, part teasingly. “You mean they’re not one and the same?”

Alec looks at him as if to say oh really, a laugh pinned against the roof of his mouth. “That’s rich coming from someone who just landed on his ass and refuses to get up.”

Magnus almost giggles, as if to say okay, fair point. Alec’s fast wit still feels like a sudden whiplash to him. He always has an amusing comeback just simmering beneath his tongue, ready to be used when the time arises. His words are just as fast as the way he carves out ice on the rink. Magnus still remembers the first time he’s ever seen Alec skate.

It’s the sound that draws Magnus in first. The smooth scratch of blades against freshly zambonied ice is something like music to the ears. It makes Magnus quietly descend down the stairs and right at rink side, elbows propped against the barrier, lost eyes taking in the fast yet graceful body driving puck after puck after puck into the net—high, low, stick side, glove side, right between the pads of an imaginary goal tender.

It’s only when Alec stops right in front of Magnus, snow spraying in his wake, that he actually feels himself blink. He smiles knowingly. Enjoying the show, are we?

Magnus laughs sheepishly, and decides not to mince words. Yes. You’re mesmerizing. He holds out a hand. I’m Magnus Bane. Professor Penhallow said you’re willing to participate in an Applied Physics study?

Alec Lightwood, and yeah, definitely, Alec says, slipping a glove off, hurriedly wiping his hand clean, and shaking Magnus’, I knew you were coming today, and I did see you in the corner of my eye, just didn’t expect—Alec falters, and Magnus raises his brow part curiously, part knowingly, like he’s expected the comment. Jocks are jocks, right? And today is an eyeliner day.

You can finish that sentence, Magnus says, smiling, whatever it is, I’m sure I have thick enough skin for it.

Alec looks back at him, confused. I was just going to say I didn’t expect an applied physics major to look like he can bench press more than I can.

Magnus blinks, takes the words, and parses through it thoroughly; Alec might have admitted to him in his own jock way that he’s hot. Maybe Magnus himself as a bit of a preconceived notion about athletes. What an unusual turn of events.

I’ll make sure to wear my reading glasses next time. Magnus teases with a smirk, and to which, Alec snickers.

You can borrow mine.

“Magnus.” Alec calls, laughter in his voice, and Magnus blinks. He’s been doing that a lot lately. “You have to get up.”

Oh yes, he’s on his first date with the most beautiful man he knows while at the same time daydreaming about the same beautiful man. That doesn’t make sense and Magnus thinks he may be concussed.

“How much mulled wine did you have?”

Oh, and that too.

“One,” Magnus says slowly, and Alec raises a fine brow at him, and it’s the most beautiful thing Magnus has ever drunkenly (ish) seen, “Plus four..?” he sighs, rubbing his belly. “It was so good and warm.”

Alec snickers, palm pressing against his eyes like he can’t believe the sneakiness Magnus would have employed to down four more cups of mulled wine behind his back. “Oh god. You’re drunk.”

Magnus corrects him from below, a finger swaying in the air. “No, just giddy. Also I’m just going say it now, because I feel really brave for some reason,” Magnus says aloud, so loud that a couple of skaters turn to look at their direction, “And I hope you’re ready.”

Alec gives him a small grin, cheeks rosy. “Hit me.”

“God, I really like you!” Magnus exclaims, and Alec laughs, and it’s like music in the air.

Alec shakes his head. “I definitely didn’t expect to be saying this right here right now, but,” he presses his lips together into a soft smile, “I really like you too.”

“Nice.” Magnus hisses victoriously, pumping a fist into the air, and looks at Alec pleadingly. “Celebratory mulled wine?”

Alec loses it completely.

When he gathers himself from the side-splitting laugh he endures, he ends up hauling Magnus onto his back and skating his way back to the start of the trail. Between Magnus giggling into his neck and his chest pressed perfectly against his back to a point of feeling the rhythm each other’s hearts, Alec doesn’t think there’s anything Christmas could bring that would make him feel as warm as he’s feeling right now.

“You could at least feign interest.”

The whisper comes in a tone of utmost indignation, huffed through a short exhale. Alexander does everything in his power to refrain himself from rolling his eyes. He takes a breath in and out instead. When he speaks, his voice is controlled.

“Forgive me, mother.” He says, addressing the Lightwood matriarch with a small nod, “The hunt had been long. I’m quite tired, I’m afraid.”

Maryse makes a distinct sound at the excuse. “You could at least use a better lie.”

“Mother’s right, Alexander.” Isabelle nonchalantly says from where she’s standing next to him, on the balcony overlooking the orchestration of noblemen and noblewomen moving across the dancefloor, “You need not lie for me. I rode my horse too far yet again, and you had to search for me through the early evening.”

Maryse looks positively mortified, eyes widened in horror at the revelation made before her. “Isabelle, you age me beyond my years with every passing day.”

Alexander and Isabelle exchange a small look across their shared space, biting down onto their lips in hope of pinning down the laugh that threatens to escape it.

The queen sighs, fingers fluttering onto her forehead. “The heavens may have blessed me beautiful, intelligent children, but they’ve cursed me with stubborn ones as well.” She throws both of them a knowing look. “One wonders which would prevail, a boulder or your two hard heads.”

“Our two hard heads, of course.” Isabelle whispers mischievously to her brother, “Three if you count the one always at attention when a certain someone’s around.” It’s all Alexander needs to choke on his own saliva right then and there.

Prince of Alicante, the golden archer, next in line for the throne, Alexander Lightwood, choking on his own spit.

Oh, heavens, help me, the queen bemoans as she makes her way to the gold-gilded chair that stands behind them. A hand maiden hands her a goblet of water to sip upon, and it makes Alexander and Isabelle want to laugh all the more.

Alexander breathes, settled now, and he clasps both hands behind him, stretching the hefty fabric of his white tailored jacket across his chest. He gazes upon their subjects below, in all sorts of merriment as the Christmas ball continues into the night. The musicians play their instruments that carries music through out the castle, in loud pompous beats within the royal ballroom, and in softer waves through the towering ceilings and empty, ornate hallways. Everybody looks their best, and everybody is happy. He could not ask for more than that from the holidays.

“You need not lie for me.” Alexander mutters under his breath after a moment to himself.

Isabelle smiles softly, eyes at the dancing below. “I agree. I did not need to.” She says, “But I wanted to.”

Alexander looks down onto his feet momentarily. “I have no secrets to keep.”

“Who says you are?” Isabelle asks, on her red lips a teasing smile.

Alexander doesn’t stifle himself this time and rolls his eyes. “You sound like someone who’s happened upon fresh gossip.”

Isabelle chuckles under her breath. “No gossip here, brother. Just observations.”

Alexander raises a brow. “And what might those be?”

Isabelle laughs a second time. “Alexander. If were to I list them all, we will be here until the clock strikes twelve.”

From the corner of their eyes, the queen is motioning to the herald and he steps forward, sounding the trumpet to garner everybody’s attention. All movements cease from below, and the herald announces the start to the presentation of princesses for Alexander’s consideration for the first royal dance—a tradition that stems so very deep into royal history. He breathes out, brow furrowed, and takes one step towards the stair case when Isabelle holds her hand out.

“I would like to be the one to do the royal dance this year, mother.” She says firmly, and the queen waves a hand dismissively.

“No. Alexander will do it.”

“Is because I’m a woman?” Isabelle challenges, and Alexander looks at her, brow raised.

Maryse rolls her eyes—ah yes, that’s where they both get it from. “Isabelle, the eldest child always does the first royal dance. It’s tradition.”

Damn it is visible on Isabelle’s face. Alexander doesn’t know exactly what his sister has planned, but she has quite a fair bit of fight left in her. “The same way a queen cannot govern this kingdom without a king?” she says, and by the way Maryse’s face shifts, she knows she’s hit at something substantial.

Isabelle delivers the final blow. “And yet, here we are. A queen governing a kingdom just fine by her own.” She says, “Mother, Lightwoods spit at tradition and accept the consequences.”

Alexander fights down a smile. Sweet Isabelle, princess of Alicante, master tactician. Maryse must be regretting ever putting her through military training with him.

Maryse breathes out a small sigh—these children will be the death of me—before turning to the herald and telling him to call forth the princes instead.

Isabelle turns to Alexander, finally. “He’s where he usually is. The eve of Christmas is not for dancing with people you don’t like.”

Alexander says stiffly, “I like my people.”

“You don’t love them, though.” Isabelle looks at him knowingly. “Go.”

Alexander presses his lips together, a thought tumbling precariously within his mind, torn again between nagging responsibility and softly beckoning desire. But he remembers a laugh so musical it fills him to the brim, and eyes so wise it seems to hold the answers to every question he’s ever asked. It’s what makes him look at Isabelle with gentle gratitude, and it’s what makes him turn around and walk away even before his mother could say anything.

“She is a great beauty.”

Alexander frowns at his hands, a gentle breeze fluttering his cloak about. The sunlight beams down upon both of them softly, like a gentle greeting, and it makes the gold of his tunic glisten. “That I’m not contesting.”

His eyes leave the lines of his palms and settles on the sun-kissed back of his most trusted friend. The man rakes his fingers through the soil, airing it out for planting new seedlings. Magnus has always been of the land. From the first moment they have met, he has always smelled like freshly watered earth, like petrichor in the morning.

The same man looks away from his task and peers up at him. “Then what are you contesting?”

Alexander shrugs, lips pressed together. “That I don’t feel any affection for her?” he says, “That I don’t want to marry her?”

Magnus chortles, and Alexander frowns. “Alexander, it is but a meeting. Not a betrothal.”

Alexander rolls his eyes. “You say that as if you’ve mastered the inner workings of political diplomacy.”

“I say it because I know the queen.” Magnus says, rising to his feet, hands brushing soil from his trousers, “I know your mother. I know how though she wears a stern mask, she bears a soft heart.”

Magnus presses a hand against Alexander’s arms, and the touch is warm and reassuring. “She will not let her son suffer for her own betterment. Or the betterment of the kingdom.”

Alexander watches as Magnus trudges towards a basket sitting on the ground, gathers a bouquet of picked flowers from this morning, all the stems wound with a brown string. “Anthurium for hospitality, gentian for gratitude, amaryllis for splendid beauty, and alstroemeria for friendship.” He presses the flowers into Alexander’s hands, “For the princess.”

“Attend today’s meeting.” Magnus says, smile soft, “Princess Lydia deserves your respect, if not your affection. And whoever holds your affection, I’m sure she will respect in return.”

Alexander pins his lip between his teeth, a thought within his mind. “Whoever holds my affection, will you respect this person too?”

There’s a glaze of something in Magnus’ eyes, maybe wistfulness, but too slight for Alexander to be sure.

“Whoever you choose to love, Alexander,” Magnus says gently, “I will love as well. As my own kin, as my own friend.” He smiles yet again, and the hand on Alexander’s arm falls away as he settles back onto the earth. He takes a rose seedling and begins his work of planting them into the soil.

Alexander smiles to himself as he walks away, an arm cradling a bouquet of flowers, the other hand brushing the fully bloomed petals of hundreds of red roses that surround them both.

“He is lucky.”

Alexander quickly turns from the window and hides his surprise beneath a mask of nonchalance. The royal dining room has been emptied out, and both royal families have moved to the great chamber for tea. The gentle waterfall tune of a harp being played hangs in the air.

“I’m not sure what you mean, princess.”

Lydia chuckles, brightly painted lips curled into a smile. “No need for falsities. If our kingdoms are to work together, I wish for us to be good enough friends to admit when one has discovered a grain of truth about the other.”

Alexander furrows his brow, unamused. “And this is what you think. That you’ve discovered a grain of truth about me.”

“I pass no judgement.” Lydia answers, her words bearing a tone of truth, “I see love for what it is. Simple. True. Shared between people.”

“I am impressed by your forward thinking, your highness,” Alexander says, frowning, “But I fear you are misdirected.”

Lydia peers through the window herself and finds the figure of a man working under the sun, surrounded by the roses he himself have planted. “I assume it is his expertise that is behind the beautiful flowers you’ve presented me with?”

She looks back at Alexander, smiling gratefully. “Please extend my warmest gratitude.”

Alexander blinks, taken aback by the genuine words. “I will.”

She gazes at him, really looks, as if within her ribcage a grain of truth pleads to be let out. “Alexander.” She says, and the softness in her voice is enough to for him to allow the brazen use of his name, “Bravery isn’t simply wielding a sword in battle. Being who we truly are as we live our lives with every passing day,”

“That is bravery too.”

Lydia presses her hand against his momentarily, a sympathetic smile on her mouth, before she turns and walks away. By the door her hand maiden awaits, the bright red of her curled hair visible from far away, and Alexander watches in muted awe as Lydia takes the other’s hand in hers.

“I wonder if I’d ever see you without your hands combed through the earth.”

Alexander feels the man smile even before he turns to look at him. The moon casts its light upon them both, as if it knows all the lamps in the castle is being used to light the Christmas ball that continues on in the periphery.

“Don’t hold your breath.” Magnus says, a smiling mouth formed around gentle words, “I came to you with dirt in my hands, I will leave you the same way.”

Alexander remembers the moment like it was a memory encased in glass. The royal gardeners have been dealing with what they thought were rabbits pulling root crops from their vegetable garden, until one day, they give chase to something definitely much bigger. They pull a child from beneath a berry bush, thin, quivering, and frightened beyond measure. They would have thrown the child into the dungeons if not for a ten-year-old Alexander barking orders like he’s already bestowed the throne. When Alexander takes the hand of the child to pull him up to his feet, earth is smudged across his face, soil underneath his fingernails. They’ve grown up together, Alexander as the prince of Alicante, and Magnus taken in as a servant boy by a sympathetic queen, and no matter what, no matter when, earth lives in Magnus.

Some things never change.

“Wait,” Alexander says, confused, as if the words have settled in his mind quite late, “Leave?”

Magnus rises, hands passing against the sides of his pants as he usually does. He looks at Alexander, eyes soft. “I have asked the queen if I could serve the Aldertrees instead.” He says, and the words are muffled against the rising panic within Alexander’s head, “And she graciously said yes.”

Alexander feels fear and sorrow and anger swirl like a hurricane within his chest. “Why?”

Magnus smiles small. “Change of scenery, my prince.”

“Speak true.” Alexander grits, “And if not the truth, at the very least don’t lie.”

“If I do,” Magnus says, slowly, softly, words losing its honorifics, and the familiarity of it feels at the very least comforting, “If I tell you my truth, what good is it?”

“Tell me.” Alexander says under his breath, brow furrowed.

Magnus continues like he hasn’t heard the request. “What good is baring one’s heart if it is to be ripped out of the body in the end?”

Alexander sighs, hand to the forehead, frustrated. “Magnus, tell me.”

“I promised,” Magnus says, hand planted against Alexander’s heart, voice shaky, “I promised that I would love who you love, and I don’t think I can.”

Alexander casts him a look of confusion, his words telling of the panic in his chest, “What has brought this about, what did you see—”

“Nothing,” Magnus presses, eyes glassy, “Just—a seedling of truth. One that has been growing within me for a long time, one that I know will bear no fruit.” He pats his palm against Alexander’s heart, as if in goodbye, “I leave tonight, with the Aldertrees’ carriage—”

“I love you.” Alexander says, cutting down Magnus doubt cleanly like a sword to a body, “And by I love you I mean I’ve thought about every good thing that has happened to me and the thoughts that my mind bring forward is you.”

“By I love you I mean I’ve thought about every consequence that could come my way by loving you and I’ve decided I would accept it if you would.”

“And by I love you I mean,” Alexander finds himself breathing heavy, like he’s run a marathon, heart galloping away, “Stay.”

“Just—” Alexander whispers, softly now, a solemn request, “Stay, Magnus.”

Magnus breathes, “I love you too, Alexander.” He whispers, “Since the day you pulled me from the earth. Until I take my last breath and I return to the dirt I came from. Even after that, I’d love you.”

Magnus shakes his head. “But I can’t promise you I’d let you give up your crown for someone like me.” He says, throat hoarse, “I can’t promise you I’d let Alicante lose the kindest king they would ever have.”

Magnus feels Alexander’s breath against his skin.

“But I promise to stay.”

Alexander nods, “Alright.”

Magnus chuckles. “Alright?”

“Yes, alright.” Alexander laughs gently, “May I?”

The question comes out of him as if he does not have the crest of the royal family stitched into his destiny, as if he is not the general of Alicante’s armies, as if he does not have a throne awaiting his ascension. Before Magnus, he is who is in the barest sense—a simple man.

Magnus smiles. “You may.”

They kiss, softly but surely, under a bright moon, amongst flowers planted by Magnus’ hands himself, the clock bells chiming midnight. They welcome Christmas day with eyes fluttered close and the smell of lush earth.

“Mother fucker—” Alec grits as another bullet whizzes past, this time so dangerously close to his head that it actually makes him jump in surprise, “He’s armed!”

Alec breathes out steadily and peeks minutely past the overturned table, momentarily catching sight of his target’s head flitting into view and returning fire expertly, a bullet boring a hole in the wall where his target once was.

“You were supposed to know that he has a fucking M1911 strapped under his desk!” Alec growls as he feels pieces of wood splintering from his make-shift shield.

Raj’s voice filters through his ear piece and the son of a bitch dares sound bored. This is America, everyone has an M1911.

Alec presses himself closer to the ground, Beretta M9 held close as he waits for an opportune moment to return fire. “He’s a good shot,” he snarls, before lifting himself off and firing a couple of rounds of his own, “Any explanations for that, asshole?”

Shooting range?

“Idiot.” He hisses, before abandoning the thoroughly shot at table and ducking behind a wall. There is a momentary lull, a silence that fills the penthouse, the tinkling of the barely-holding crystal chandelier the only sound Alec could appreciate.

You have a clear exit through a staircase by the kitchen. Back up’s ready—

“No.” Alec mutters, “I’ll finish—”

An unbearable screech rips through his ears and pulses into Alec’s brain as he curls in pain, tearing the ear piece off and before he could even attempt to clear his head, a shoulder digs deeply into his abdomen, knocking the breath out of his lungs and bodying him onto the floor.

They both hit marble with a dull thud that rattles both their bodies and Alec takes advantage of his assailant’s head pinned beneath him. Adrenalin surges through his bloodstream as he drops an elbow right onto the back of his assailant, hitting a wall of clenched muscle. The man buckles with a breathless groan but it soon passes as he quickly flips onto his back and in one smooth maneuver presses himself against Alec from the rear, locks an arm across his neck and squeezes.

A grunt pulses into Alec’s ears, “Stay down, darling.”

Alec gasps for air, eyes squeezes shut as he feels the heavy pressure bruise his trachea, but despite the oxygen deprivation, he sputters indignantly at the patronizing nickname. He is fucking pissed. He reverts back to basic training and pushes an elbow into one of the legs pinned around his waist, his other hand pulling the opposite direction in an attempt to at the very least bend the tibia just enough to—

A pained yell bursts by the side of his head and he reaches back and punches at the first thing I can reach, and god bless for long limbs because he hits a cheek squarely as if he has been aiming for something in the first place. Arms finally give way around his neck and he scrambles out of the loosened hold. He gets on his feet, and throws his entire body into another downward blow against a finely chiselled jaw. It jars his opponent just enough for Alec to get his own arms around the other’s neck in a tight rear chokehold of his own, and unlike his opponent, he will not make the mistake of not using it the fullest extent. He twists both legs over the assailant’s, pinning them in place, and with his arms locked tight he rocks onto his back, putting his entire weight onto the hold. It doesn’t take long for the thrashing to stop.

Alec pants, gives it a few seconds more, and lets go before his assailant expires fully. He has some questions he wants answered, and a dead hostage is a useless hostage. He hauls himself up, watches carefully as the unconscious man before him lays motionless on the floor, and with one massive push he flips him onto his chest. He takes zip ties from the inside of his jacket pocket and binds the other’s wrist with enough ties to ground a bigger beast down.

He wipes blood from his brow, a cut he doesn’t even know he got somewhere during the entire ruckus. He flips the man again, and Alec takes a good look on his face.

Well, fuck, he thinks to himself, as if he hasn’t seen the photos, as if the real deal, all bloodied up and hair loose around the face, is infinitely better, he’s hot.

His ear piece crackles on the floor completely destroyed, as if to agree.

“I could get used to waking up to a sight like this.”

Alec rolls his eyes, slips his shirt back on, and shoots right at a spot dangerously close to the man’s now scuffed oxfords. Annoying how he doesn’t even flinch. Instead, smiles cheekily, leaning back on his rickety throne, wrists and ankles bound.

“Shut up.” Alec orders, dragging a chair and dropping to a spot right in front of his hostage, “I decide when you speak.”

“Anything for you, darling.” He says smoothly through a bruised lip, and the words itself earns him another punch across the face. He laughs, hair strewn, and spits blood onto the glass-littered marbled floor.

“What’s your real name?” Alec asks as he settles his chair, “You are clearly not Brandon Han, and you are clearly not a wall street banker.”

“Magnus Bane. Pleasure to meet you.” Magnus says, tongue swiping downwards to rid himself of the trail of blood dripping down his lip, and Alec is not going to pretend it doesn’t make him feel things. “I’m sure you won’t be returning the favor of introducing yourself.”

“You have common sense, at least.” Alec answers menacingly, “Who do you work for? Hedgman? Lumumba? Or are you self employed?”

“Retired.” Magnus winks, and Alec swears to god he knows something he doesn’t. Magnus sighs, leaning back, “And I was happily retired, fronting as a foolish wall street banker, living an honest life.”

He angles his head slightly to the side, squinting curiously. “Until a firm sends one of their fresh, beautiful faces to shake up my nest.”

Magnus continues, stretching his words slowly, “Working on false intel.”

Something stirs in Alec’s chest, and it mingles with the ache that echoes from Magnus’ body slam.

Magnus shrugs, “Bugged from head to toe.” He says, eyes following the trail of his last three words. “That was why you had to strip off your clothes, right? To check?”

He chuckles. “A couple of hours early, but a great Christmas gift, nonetheless.”

Alec rolls his eyes, yet again, and this time shoots an inch from Magnus’ ear. The bullet shatters a vase instead. Still, a picture of relaxed temperament. What a fucker.

“Does flirting ever work as an escape plan?” Alec asks, and Magnus grins.

“Darling, I only flirt with people I like.” He says in a languid drawl, “And because I like you so much, Alexander Lightwood, I’ll tell you this.”

A boulder drops into the pit of Alec’s stomach at the mention of his name, his real name, through the mouth of the operative he was supposed to terminate. It makes him smoothly get up on his feet, gun aimed right at Magnus Bane’s forehead, barrel touching his skull’s frontal bone, a kill shot.

“You do not know the people you have chosen to work for.” He says, the flirtations dissipating into thin air, making way for vitriol in his words that are said under his breath, an undercurrent, “You have been made an offering, an easy kill, a love letter to an assassin who’s being wooed by someone who has been for a long time a mere annoyance. But now?”

Magnus just about hisses, “I’m fucking pissed.”

He leans forward, forehead pushing threateningly against Alec’s gun, eyes glinting in anger. “I’ve had enough of these silly games.” He seethes, every word punctuated with some kind of madness, “And I am tired of killing every little errand boy sent to me by a woman who doesn’t understand the word no.”

“Funny how a little errand boy bested you in combat and has you bound to a chair.” Alec snarls, and Magnus actually laughs.

He lifts the chair off the ground, and when it makes contact onto the floor it buckles underneath him and collapses into pieces. He rises to his feet, free, tossing the arms and legs that were once bound to his limbs, the zip ties mere accessories dangling from his wrists and ankles.

“I learned after the fifth assassin,” Magnus says, hand gesticulating, “That my furniture needs to reflect my ongoing needs.”

Alec follows him with his gun, aim true.

“Did you really think I don’t know how to finish off a proper choke hold?” Magnus asks, shrugging, “Did you really think I would incapacitate you rather than shoot you at point blank range if my goal was to put you to the ground?”

Magnus peers into Alec’s eyes. “Do you think I would have let you even cross the foyer of my apartment, if I truly wanted you dead?”

“Then what do you want from me?” Alec grits.

They hear footsteps, or whispers of footsteps, ones that are carefully deposited onto the floor. There are signs and symptoms of stealthy movements, a small click of guns being adjusted within tight grips, the brush of tactical gear against fabric.

“I’m going to kill Camille Belcourt. And every single member of her firm until everything she owns is rubble on the ground. You can pass onto her that message.” Magnus says under his breath, wary of spying ears, “Or you can help me take her down.”

The door to Magnus’ apartment bursts open, and back up fills the living room like floodgates being opened. They form a wall of ammunition from behind, and it makes the hair on Alec’s neck prickle in apprehension. A steady ache builds in his gut, and it offers to him an intuition. Alec presses his lips together, brow furrowed, gun still pointed at Magnus who has settled in his spot upon the home invasion.

“You have a decision to make.” Magnus says quietly, and it makes Alec grip his gun even tighter, unmoving.

“Will not ask again.”

Raj barks an order from his left.

“Take the shot, Alec.”

Alec breathes steadily, and even in times like this, feels irritation at that stupid voice. He rolls his eyes a third time today. He looks at Raj.

“You are so fucking annoying.”

He shoots him at point blank range.

Alec moves even before Raj hits the ground and runs for cover, grabbing Magnus along with him and jumping behind the overturned velvet sofa. A barrage of bullets rains down upon them and Alec winces at a piece of wood flying into his face. He crumples himself even small behind the couch and he quickly hands Magnus another Beretta and a couple of magazines slotted within his boot.

“You must be something else if Belcourt either wants you for herself or wants you dead.” Alec grunts, checking his own magazine and clicking a new one in place. “Show me what you got, old timer.”

Magnus looks at him dead in the eyes, smirking. “I’m not sure you can handle what I got, new blood.”

They give it a second—and then they start.

“Not bad.” Alec pants, blood spattered across his forehead.

Magnus peels off a thoroughly ripped suit jacket. “Likewise.”

They look around, the once pristine penthouse overlooking New York’s financial district reduced to rubble. Magnus looks at his home in superficial sorrow, a hand on the heart for the expensive, one-of-a-kind paintings that now has no value now that it’s been the catch all of fifty bullet holes. But then again New York socialites are fucking idiots. Maybe they’ll think it’s a Banksy.

“We should get going.” Alec says, “We’ve been here too long.”

Magnus holds a finger up, gaze directed onto the clock that is still miraculously standing after the hurricane of bullets that whipped upon the entire apartment. Alec frowns, looks up as well and just as he does the clock strikes twelve, bells chiming softly.

Magnus smiles at Alec. “Merry Christmas, Alexander.”

Alec can’t help but laugh.

“Merry Christmas.”

Alec wakes up to the feeling of snow.

When he blearily opens his eyes there’s a small cloud floating above him, sprinkling snowflakes on his nose. He chuckles, fingers rubbing the sleep out of his lashes. He need only look beside him to see Magnus beaming at him, chin propped on his shoulder.

“Good morning, love.” Magnus happily says, and Alexander feels the warmth of the words settle deep into his chest.

“’Mornin’.” Alec unwittingly mumbles, throat still hoarse with sleep. He contentedly leans down and meets his husband’s already pouted lips for a kiss, then blinks up at the little storm cloud swirling above him. “This is new.”

“There’s a movie Madzie has been raving on about, where an ice princess makes a snow cloud for a snowman so it won’t melt.” Magnus answers, flipping onto his back and stretching his arms as far as they can go, “I don’t want my snowman melting.” He grins as he swings his legs off the side of the bed.

Alec looks at Magnus, fake offended. “So I’m the cold one in this marriage? Me? When I ask to be cuddled all the time?”

“That only proves my point.” Magnus says, slipping on his silk pajamas and poking his arms through his robe, “Coldies always want cuddles. It’s their defining quality.”

Alec rolls his eyes fondly, getting out of bed himself. “I can’t believe Fray planned a three-part event for Christmas day.” He says, voice muffled momentarily as his head passes through his shirt, “And all mundane stuff?”

“It’s going to be fun, Alexander.” Magnus says soothingly, “Ice skating, a snowball fight in Central Park, and a Christmas ball in the New York Institute? Sounds like a nice way to spend Christmas day.”

Alec looks at Magnus like he’s a bit deluded. “Have you skated before?”

Magnus purses his lips in thought. “No, but I love parties and I’m a good shot, so I’m two for three.” He grins, “What ever I will lack on skating, I will make up for confidence.”

Alec disappears through the bathroom door, his voice mingling with the sound of water hitting the sink. “The last time I danced is during our wedding, and god knows you still have the scuffed shoes as proof of my skills.”

“How about a bit of practice?” Alec hears from the living room, and when he steps out of the bathroom with a washed face and brushed teeth, a slow, old-time, big band song sways in the air, hanging soft notes of piano and trumpets in the atmosphere.

Alec walks barefooted into the living room where a vinyl player is spinning a record, one of Magnus’ many mundane treasures. He sees his husband standing there with a smile on his lips, equally barefooted on the ornately patterned rug they’ve brought home from a souk in Tangier. He awaits him the same way he awaited him in the middle of the dancefloor of their wedding, almost a year ago now, a hand outstretched.

Alec warmly smiles, and he knows despite his two left feet, despite the many times he will lose his footing and sway the wrong way, he will always dance with Magnus. He will look a fool for Magnus. He loves him that much.

Alec’s hand meets Magnus’ and they draw to each other automatically like a moth to flame. Magnus curls into the circle of his arms, head tucked under Alec’s chin, temple pressed against the spot on his neck where his deflect rune sits. Alec presses their joined hands between their chests as Magnus circles his arm around Alec’s back, and then they sway. Feet brushing against carpet threads, fingers grasped together, eyes fluttered close.

There are many conversations that needs to be had in the future, ones that involve turning fifty years together to sixty, sixty to seventy, seventy to eternity. It’s a conversation Alec has had with himself many, many times, but not yet with the man he loves. Sometimes doubt inches its way into what he has thought is a firm resolve. But what brings Alec back towards sureness is somewhat of an odd thought.

Sometimes Alec wonders if there’s universes out there where he doesn’t have all this, an Alec without a Magnus held close against his chest, and it truly makes his heart ache in a way he doesn’t quite get. It makes him draw his husband even nearer, as if just thinking about losing Magnus barrels him towards a reality where that is the truth. It’s what moves him closer and closer to certainty of the future he wants.

He’s not quite there yet.

But he will be.

For now, he dances with the man he loves.

“Merry Christmas, Magnus.” A shadow hunter says to a warlock.

(A hockey player says to a physics major.

A prince says to a servant.

An assassin says to another assassin.)

Alec feels a smile against his shirt.

“Merry Christmas, Alexander.”

[carmenlire]

Higher than the Big Trees Ch. 13

read chapter one

read on ao3

Magnus walks into Basil’s Cafe fifteen minutes before they’re supposed to meet. As expected, the little diner is deserted. There’s an elderly woman sitting in the corner reading the newspaper, but other than that it’s just the skeleton waitstaff. There’s only two people working in the front, a waitress and cashier, with the only other employee being the cook manning the grill.

Magnus breathes a little sigh of relief. It would be just his luck that he’d promise Alexander the place would be empty only for it to turn out to be the busiest day of the year.

He slides into a booth towards the back, facing the door, and places his briefcase beside him on the seat. The waitress knows him-- he eats here at least twice a week and she's a student-- and she knows if he’s in a hurry or if he’d like time before she comes over. He’s given his space as he sits down and takes a minute to decompress. His freshmen this morning had been more interactive than usual but Wednesdays run late and he has a pile of work to finish before he can call it a day.

Magnus already knows what he’s going to order. He wasn’t joking about how delicious their burgers were and he’s starving. Since he has a little time before Alec’s expected to show up, he takes out the latest chapter of his manuscript, intent on editing a few pages while he waits.

He didn’t count on the unwelcome interruption.

Someone snatches the page he was working on out of his hand and Magnus’s head whips up, annoyed and ready to lambaste whoever had the audacity to do such a thing.

He should’ve known.

“Raphael,” he hisses as he makes a move to reclaim his paper. “What are you doing here?”

Raphael doesn’t even spare him a look, just keeps reading over the page he’s stolen. Magnus knows that he won’t receive an answer until Raphael is damn good and ready to give him one, so he sits with a glare pasted on his face, waiting to be acknowledged.

Finally, Raphael drops the paper back on the table, merely offering, “You have a typo on line seventeen.”

Magnus arches a brow but his eyes drop down to the page and he skims until he finds the error. He takes his pen and makes a notation before letting it drop down on top of the rest of the draft.

“And, again I ask, what are you doing here,” he repeats sardonically.

Raphael takes a moment to look at him like he’s an idiot before responding. “It is lunchtime, Magnus, and this is a well-known lunch spot. I wonder what possible motive I could have for stopping by?”

Magnus makes a play of looking affronted, but inside he can’t help the worry that’s descended on him. He’d told Alec that he wouldn’t be recognized during this lunch and here is one of his best friends who most definitely knows what Alec looks like.

Plus, Magnus knows Raphael. The little shit is almost guaranteed to make a comment that will either attempt to embarrass him or a dig at Alec just on principle. Magnus isn’t interested in finding out what kind of mood Raphael’s in today.

Magnus looks Raphael up and down. “Where, then, is your food mon ami?”

Raphael doesn’t answer right away, taking a minute to complete his own examination, looking Magnus over. “I just ordered it. They have to actually cook the food, you know. It doesn’t magically appear as soon as the words leave my mouth.”

“How unfortunate,” Magnus drolly replies.

A little smile graces his friend's lips as he finally takes a seat on the other side of the booth.

“Why are you being so weird,” Raphael bluntly asks.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think you do,” is his response. “First of all, you’re always happy to see me, or at least a little less panicked than you are currently. What’s going on? Are you meeting your lover? Are they married and you’re worried I’ll judge you? Need I remind you that if I didn’t say anything about that Jamaican priest--”

“Hey,” Magnus cuts in, affronted. “You know very well that you’re making it sound much worse than it was--”

“Oh, and let’s not forget that time I caught you with your pants down, literally, in the museum--”

“Raphael,” Magnus hisses, leaning forward as he catches sight of Ale through the window, walking towards the door.

“Raphael shuts up, looking at Magnus expectantly.

Magnus, for his part, feels his pulse trip as he keeps one eye on Raphael, the other on Alec as he reaches for the door.

Magnus only has a few seconds to avert disaster.

“I will explain everything later if you leave right now, no questions asked,” he furiously whispers.

Raphael leans back in his seat, looking like he’s settling in for a siege before asking, “Why?”

“I will explain everything later. Right now, I need you to to leave without saying a word.”

While his expression is serious, Raphael’s eyes are dancing with glee at the prospect of catching onto whatever has Magnus in such a tizzy. He lays his arm on the table, fingers drumming against the top.

“I don’t know,” he muses. “It must be something big to rattle you like this. Let’s see--”

“Magnus?”

Magnus sighs a little, knowing that while lunch will probably be lovely, he’ll have hell to catch later. He tries to silence Raphael with a look, knowing it’s futile, before he turns to take in Alec.

Alec’s dressed casual, in jeans and a baseball tee. There’s a snapback over that lovely hair and he looks good enough to eat.

Magnus wants to kiss him. Just a little.

He pushes those thoughts from his head through sheer force of will and stands up smoothly, smiling on his face.

“Alexander,” he greets. “Punctual as always.”

Alec returns the smile, giving Magnus an obvious onceover before his eyes catch on Raphael.

His presence must startle him, because Alec stutters a little before getting out, “I wasn’t expecting anyone but you--”

“Oh, he’s just leaving, darling, “ Magnus hastily cuts in.

He resolutely ignores Raphael’s pointed looks, instead watches Alec to make sure he’s not about to run away. While he’d set down the rules for discretion for his own sake, Magnus can’t forget that Alec’s taking a chance, too. While he’s definitely more accustomed to media intrusion, Alec likes to stay anonymous when he can. It’s expected that he’d be weary when confronted with a stranger-- especially when Magnus had all but guaranteed privacy.

Alec looks uncertain for a moment, but that disappears a second later. Magnus only picks up on it because he’s studying him so closely, as Alec subtly steels himself before turning completely to Raphael, who’s still sitting in the booth.

He sticks out a hand. “I’m Alec. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Raphael darts a quick glance to Magnus before facing Alec and shaking his hand.

“I’m Raphael. I’m one of Magnus’s best friends and resident foreign language expert at Columbia. Nice to meet you.”

Alec’s smile turns genuine as he learns that Raphael obviously isn’t interested in meeting Alec Lightwood.

Not wanting to give him any more time to ruin things, Magnus pointedly looks at Raphael. “I do believe your lunch is ready, friend.”

Luckily, at that moment the cashier yells out a number and Raphael nods once. “That’s my order. I’ll see you later, Magnus.” He turns to Alec, giving him a considering look. “It was nice meeting you Lightwood.”

Alec looks surprised for a second, blurting out, “You know who I am?”

Raphael snorts inelegantly and Magnus makes a note to tease him mercilessly about it later.

“Of course I know who you are. I’ve been friends with Magnus for years.”

Magnus closes his eyes, praying for death, before he opens them, only to find Alec looking at him. He has an expression on his face that Magnus can’t interpret.

“What does that mean?”

Raphael answers for him, a skeptical look on his face. “Like you don’t know,” he replies. “Magnus is a huge fan of yours. If I have to listen to him wax poetic about your solo in Vanilla Cheesecake one more time--”

“Chocolate Raspberry,” Magnus and Alec correct, simultaneously.

Raphael just shakes his head. “Whatever.”

His mouth opens for what no doubt would be another scintillating tidbit that Magnus would rather keep hidden, when he abruptly closes it.

He smiles before giving a little shrug. “Well, my food is getting cold and I have a class in half an hour. I’ll see you later, Magnus.”

Magnus doesn’t know how, but those words definitely sound like a threat.

Magnus just nods and Alec smiles at Raphael as he climbs out of the booth and heads to the counter to grab his bag. He doesn’t look their way as he leaves and this might be the first awkward silence Magnus has ever experienced with Alec.

There’s a pause before Alec clears his throat.

“So, are you hungry?”

Magnus laughs a little before sitting back down, gesturing for Alec to do the same. He answers as Alec slides into the place Raphael was just sitting.

“Starving, darling. Today’s been busy as usual and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping."

Alec snags a menu from where they’re stacked between the ketchup and napkins.

“What’s going on,” he asks, voice a little distracted as he starts leafing through the pages.

“Just the usual, really. Classes and grading. I have my evening class tonight and that’s always a hoot.”

Alec’s eyes flick up to meet Magnus’s as he quirks a smile. “A hoot?”

Magnus mock glares. “Yes, Alexander, a hoot. You know, a riot? An expression used to signify a good time?”

“Oh, I know what a hoot is,” Alec says with a grin. “I just haven’t heard anyone besides me and my great grandmother use it.”

“Aren’t you a funny one.”

Looking back at the list of burgers, Alec murmurs, “I do try.”

There’s a few moments of quiet as Alec peruses the rest of the menu before the waitress comes over.

“Hey, Dr. Bane.”

Magnus smiles. “Hello, Jasmine. How are you today?”

Jasmine shrugs, taking the pen out of her apron, turning the page over in her pad. “I’m doing okay. I have a huge paper due next week for Professor Fell, so I’m focusing on that right now.”

Nodding encouraging, he offers, “I’m sure you’ll do great as always, dear. Still looking to take my Southeast Asia class in the fall?”

Jasmine grins, looking enthusiastic as she replies, “Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t miss it. It’s going to be my senior year-- I have to take at least one more class with you before I graduate. Now, what can I get you two?”

Magnus looks at Alec, questioningly, and Alec nods, confirming that he’s ready to order.

“I’ll have the mushroom and swiss burger with a side of fries and a sweet tea. Alec?”

Alec looks up at Jasmine with a smile. “Hi, can I get the double bacon cheeseburger and fries. I’ll get an iced tea, too.”

Jasmine writes down the orders quickly before looking back up at the two of them with a smile. “Thanks guys. These should be ready soon.” She gestures around the empty room. “It’s not like we’re busy or anything.” With that, she walks over to the counter to place the order.

Alec drums his fingers on the tabletop. “How was your weekend?”

Magnus lays his head in his palm, thinking about what he’d done. “Uneventful. I met friends for brunch on Sunday but other than that I just worked out and binge watched my latest show on Netflix. I wrote a little, too. But, that’s pretty much it. What about you, darling?”

Alec ignores the question, instead obviously looking over the short stack of paper clipped together on Magnus’s side of the table. He juts his chin in its direction. “What’s that? Whatever you’re writing?”

Magnus reaches over and grabs the paper, flashing the first page before putting it back in his briefcase. “It is,” he confirms. “This is the latest chapter of my work-in-progress.”

“You’re writing a book?”

Magnus grins. “No need to sound so incredulous, Alexander. You know how it is in the academic world: publish or perish. I’m pleased to report that I’m far from perishing. This will be my fourth complete book, disregarding any journals or anthologies I’ve contributed to.”

Alec whistles. “Damn, I’ll admit I’m impressed. I knew you were a big deal but you’re even better than I thought. How old are you?”

Magnus arches a brow. “I’ll be thirty in December.”

“All that hard work is definitely paying off.”

“You’re telling me, darling. I freely admit that I work my ass off to keep on top of things. It’s exhausting but I do love it.”

“It’s easy to tell. What’s your book about?”

Magnus opens his mouth to answer but closes it as Jasmine comes back over with their drinks. She sets them down, tosses a couple of straws onto the table, and leaves without a word.

He picks back up.

“While I’m chair of the history department, my specialty is European imperialism. This latest book explores the consequences of their imperialist tendencies during WWI. I’m focusing on a handful of countries and their colonies in the few decades leading up to the war and following their projected paths during the war and into the aftermath. It’s actually fascinating because even most scholars don’t take into account how certain colonized lands and people-- take, for instance, the whole of India-- contributed to--

“Sorry,” Magnus breaks off, wincing a little. “I get a little carried away.”

Alec is looking at him with wide and attentive eyes, though, not with the dazed and confused expression that Magnus was expecting.

“No worries,” he says. “It’s obvious that you’re passionate about the topic and I love learning about this kind of stuff. Especially when I have such a knowledgeable teacher.”

Alec grins and Magnus is getting ready to finish his spiel-- he’ll give the high notes so he doesn’t really bore Alec-- when their food arrives.

Jasmine sets down their plates, heaping with food, and it smells delicious. Magnus’s stomach growls a little and he looks over to where Alec is holding back a laugh.

“Shut up,” he gets out, laughing. “I didn’t even have time for coffee this morning and I’ve had a full slate. I’m a little hungry.”

Alec raises his hands, surrendering. “I didn’t say anything! I’m hungry, myself. I might just inhale this burger.”

Magnus waits for Alec to take his first bite of food. While this was Magnus’s pick, he wanted to wait and make sure that Alec likes the food. He watches as Alec picks up his burger, sees the admiring look he gives it, before diving in and taking a frankly huge ass bite.

Mouth half full, Alec hums, swallowing before saying, “Holy shit, this is delicious.”

Magnus smiles as he starts in on his own plate. “This is a restaurant on a college campus. They specialize in delicious. There’s too many busy students looking for greasy food to have anything else. You should see this place at two in the morning. It's packed with wasted twenty two year olds.”

Alec laughs and the next few minutes are spent in silence as both of them eat.

Their plates are over halfway clean when the conversation picks back up.

“What’s been keeping you busy since we last spoke, darling?”

Alec takes a quick drink of his tea before replying. He shrugs.

“Nothing, really. Simon put me on a forced work vacation so I haven’t been allowed to go into the studio since last week. He gave me shit about being too frustrated to get over the writer’s block and I couldn’t see what it could hurt, so I’ve just been. . . relaxing. I’ve been working out and spending some time with my family, spending more time than I should on Netflix.”

“Do you think the break is working?”

Alec shrugs again, this time looking a little less unsure. “It’s hard to say. I haven’t been hit with sudden inspiration but I also don’t want to rip my songbook to shreds, so that’s probably progress. Regardless, I have a writing session tomorrow with another artist so let’s hope something works out.”

Magnus is intrigued. While he knows that Alec writes most of his songs, he never really thought about him working with other musicians.

“Anyone I know,” he asks.

Alec looks like he’s about to tell him before he shuts his mouth. “I actually can’t tell you who it is,” he says sheepishly. “I don’t know if they want their name out there and sessions are usually confidential unless both writers agree to make it public.” He rushes to add on, “I’m not trying to be secretive or keep things from you, it’s just that--”

“It’s okay, Alexander,” Magnus breaks in. “I completely understand. I have a friend who’s a performer and she’s constantly going on about the need to keep things quiet. No one wants to spoil their source material.”

Alec sighs, relaxes against the back of the booth in relief. “Yeah. You get it. Thanks for understanding, Magnus.”

“Of course, darling. Think nothing of it.”

They finish their lunch, talking about random topics. It strikes Magnus, not for the first time, that he’s comfortable with Alec. They’ve known each other less than a month but everything feels so natural. They can talk and joke and enjoy the quiet without it becoming awkward or unsettling.

They just seem to fit together and Magnus doesn’t think that it’s just his imagination.

Alec is in the middle of a story about his time in Greece-- they’ve both been there and love it-- when Jasmine comes over to clear the table.

“Do you guys want to see a dessert menu?”

Alec and Magnus look at each other for a second before Alec’s nodding. “Yes, please,” he says, turning up to address her.

It’s just a minute later that they’re both looking over the half a dozen options.

“Are you getting anything?”

Alec hums before setting the menu to the side. “I think I’m gonna go with a hot fudge sundae.”

He looks at Magnus, eyes laughing and smile curling on his lips. “I have a bit of a sweet tooth.”

Magnus raises a brow. “I never would’ve guessed,” Magnus says, teasing.

Alec huffs out a laugh. “What about you? Anything strike your fancy?”

Magnus smiles at the phrase, but answers nonetheless. “Their apple pie is usually amazing, so I think I’ll have a slice of that.”

The waitress comes over and takes their order, bringing their dessert within just a few minutes.

With the first bite of his ice cream, Alec moans, just a little. It sets Magnus on edge more than it should.

“Goddamn, this is amazing,” Alec breathes. “This has to be homemade hot fudge.”

“I couldn’t say, darling, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

Magnus eats his pie and the conversation picks back up, with both of them talking about their favorite travel spots.

He’s just swallowed his last bite of apple pie when Alec startles him. Seemingly without thinking, Alec reaches over and swipes his thumb across the corner of Magnus’s mouth. He immediately brings his thumb up, sucking the small bit of pie filling into his own mouth.

It takes a second, but when it registers what he’s just done, Alec flushes a little.

Magnus feels like his mind has just fallen offline. His own mouth is dry at the sight he just witnessed. Alec wasn’t even trying but Magnus feels heat lick up his spine, turning warm at just the thought. It’s crass, but he can’t help but imagine what Alec would look like, mouth swallowing otherthings.

Magnus needs to calm down.

“Sorry,” Alec says. “It’s just, you had something there--” he gestures towards Magnus’s mouth, eyes a little intense, “-- and it was just automatic. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything.”

Magnus swallows harshly, reaches for his tea blindly and takes a deep drink. “No worries, darling. You didn’t make me uncomfortable at all.”

Alec smiles, relieved, before Jasmine is standing in front of them with the check. Alec reaches out but Magnus is faster, snagging the bill before reaching for his wallet.

“I can totally get that Magnus. It’s no problem.”

Magnus waves the offer away. “Don’t worry about it; I’ve got it. Besides, you paid for ice cream last week. It’s only fair that I get lunch.”

He hands his card to Jasmine. As she walks away, he fiddles with his ear cuff. “Maybe I’ll let you get the next meal.”

Alec smiles, just a little, and the two of them stare into each other’s eyes for a minute. It’s just the two of them-- the newspaper woman had long since left-- and it feels like they’re in their own little world.

Until the waitress comes back with the receipt.

Magnus clears his throat as he looks down and scrawls his signature on the restaurant's copy, leaving a generous tip for Jasmine.

Magnus and Alec give their thanks before standing up. They stroll over to the door, Alec reaching it first and holding it open for Magnus to step through.

They linger on the sidewalk for a minute before Alec turns to face him fully. He quirks a brow, grinning, before asking, “So, you’re a fan?”

All of a sudden, Magnus remembers the less-than-ideal start their lunch date had and he snorts even as he feels warmth climb up the back of his neck.

“As you know, Alexander, you’re very well known. It’s to be expected that I would know a few of your songs.”

“Yeah, but I believe your friend said you talk about me?”

“Fishing for compliments, darling?”

Alec shrugs. “I just didn’t know you were so into me.”

His eyes widen as he realizes what he just said. “Professionally! I didn’t realize you liked me so much as a singer. I knew you recognized me in that diner that night but I thought it was just idle knowledge.”

It’s Magnus’s turn to shrug. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem like a disastrous idea if Alec knows his interest in his music is a little more than. . . casual.

“Okay, I’m a pretty big fan of your music,” Magnus admits. “I might own every album you’ve released.”

Alec’s smile grows wider before he’s laughing. He takes a step closer and Magnus is overtly aware of just how much space is between them.

"It’s good to know that you like my music. I do work hard, you know.”

“I know,” Magnus says, voice just above a whisper as he shuffles his feet just a little, closing the distance just a little more.

Magnus feels the tension, which is absurd, but here he is and here they are. Just a few feet away. He repeats that they’re just friends but he can’t deny, at least to himself, that he wants Alec to close that distance.

Alas, Alec clears his throat before stepping back and breaking whatever spell just came over them.

“Thanks for lunch, Magnus.” Alec’s smiling, looking open and happy.

Magnus returns that smile. “Thank you for accepting my invitation, Alexander. I had a great time as always.”

“Me too.”

There’s a pause as neither one makes a move to leave before Alec’s tilting his head towards the block past Magnus.

“Sorry, but I said I’d meet my sister at a store a few blocks over.”

He looks apologetic and Magnus waves the tone away.

“Of course, I have to get back to my office anyway. I have a few things I need to finish before my next class.”

Alec nods before smiling at Magnus. “I can’t wait to see you again. Have a great day, Magnus.”

“Right back at you, darling. I hope your writing session is productive tomorrow,” is Magnus’s reply and a moment later Alec is on his way.

He moves to walk past Magnus and their hands graze each other for a second that seems to last much longer.

It’s just a simple hand touch, not even the most intimate thing they’ve done today but Magnus can’t repress his shiver.

He’s hyper aware of where they just touched and it sends a little jolt through him. Alec continues on down the block, looking like he doesn’t even realize, and Magnus watches him walk away.

After a moment he turns back around and starting making his way towards his office, sighing a little.

He’s really enjoying his time with Alexander. He thinks it’s obvious that they could be great friends. They might be at that point already.

More fool him for wanting more.

[eversall]

post break up kiss + jimon 👀

you’re all horrible people for immediately asking for the saddest one. also for @vexedcer and @itsmichellejonesbitch. 

jimon + 1. post break-up kiss

“Jace, are you paying attention?” Alec asks, exasperated. Jace startles, and takes a deep breath. 

“Uh,” He frowns, “no. Sorry. What...what am I supposed to be doing?” Alec rolls his eyes and raises an eyebrow, his eyes sliding to what Jace is looking at - Raphael and Simon talking to Magnus, who’s gesturing expansively as he explains where he wants the two vampires to stand. 

“They’re not together.” Alec says casually. “If that’s what you’re wondering.” 

“I’m not.” Jace murmurs, looking at Simon again. He looks good. The shirt is new, a soft purple shirt that Jace doesn’t remember ever seeing in Simon’s closet. 

“Sure.” Alec’s eyes are sympathetic. “Well, if you’re not wondering about that, then can you at least pay attention to what you’re supposed to be doing?” 

“Warlock weddings are so complicated.” Jace says halfheartedly. Alec snorts. 

“You’re not wrong,” he says, “but I kind of like it. It’s really - there’s so many things they do for luck. It’s nice, you know? To think that almost everyone is playing some part to make the day happier.” 

Jace laughs softly at the wistful look on Alec’s face, and he clasps Alec’s shoulder. “Yeah, it is pretty nice.” He admits. He’s so happy for Alec; their parabatai bond has never been more exuberant from Alec’s end then in these last few months, between the engagement and the planning of the wedding - both the Shadowhunter one and the warlock one. 

Between Alec being the head of the Institute and Magnus being the High Warlock of Brooklyn, there’s a lot of important people to invite and rituals to follow. Jace - is not really sure. He just knows he’s supposed to wear gold to the Shadowhunter wedding, and midnight blue to the warlock wedding, and in both he’s supposed to present Alec with symbolic items. 

Simon, on the other hand - Jace glances over. He’ll be sitting in the front at the Shadowhunter one, in the first row, making a statement on Alec’s part - that he’s both a powerful Downworlder and Alec’s good friend. At the warlock wedding, Magnus has him and Raphael doing something that involves standing a particular star shaped formation and doing a spell traditionally reserved for familial blessings. 

It’s sweet that Magnus considers them family, and Simon obviously thinks so; he’s beaming at Magnus, his entire demeanor suffused with happiness. Simon loves weddings; he’d told Jace, under the covers, admitted that his father raised him a romantic, and he knows its just a silly ceremony, but it means something, and doesn’t Jace see that? 

For Simon, Jace had seen that. For him, Jace had seen everything - marriage, a house, children, a dog, a cat, a future. 

“You’re getting maudlin.” Alec interrupts his thoughts. “Are you sure you’re okay being here so soon after your breakup?” 

“I’m fine.” Jace shrugs. “We’re adults. You guys mean a lot to us. Our problems are - “

“Are important too.” Alec finishes for him. He peers carefully at Jace, and prods across the parabatai bond, Jace flinches back. “You know you’re allowed to be happy with him, right?” 

“He doesn’t love me.” Jace says quietly in response, crossing his arms and looking back at Simon, who’s now engaged in needling Raphael about something or the other, judging by the stoic but vaguely amused expression on the clan leader’s face. “He’s in such a good place, and I was dragging him down.” 

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. Hold this.” Alec instructs, unwinding a bolt of blue cloth. “I need to create foci for everyone involved in the ceremony.” Jace obliges, holding the roll in his hands as Alec measures across it, frowning. “Is that really why you broke up? I thought you guys fought.” 

“No.” Jace says absently. They hadn’t really. Jace had made the decision for the both of them; he’d spent day after day fighting demons and battling nightmares, and Simon had been - thriving. He’d made up with the Clan, he’d started campaigning for Downworlder rights, he and Alec had officially cemented his liaison status, and his music had been doing better than ever. 

I’m not part of that equation. Jace had told Simon steadily. It’s over. 

Jace is a soldier; he’s been bred to be stoic and unaffected, and he knew how to smirk before he knew how to really smile. Simon, brave and beautiful Simon, had looked like he’d been hit in the chest by a train. Jace had felt it, hadn’t been able to breathe for a moment because Simon was the love of his life. Still is, but he hasn’t told Simon that. He’s let him go, like a normal person would do; let him go so he can be the better person he was always meant to be, someone who was always going to be miles out of Jace’s league. 

Simon looks back at him, and just for a second his expression crumbles, his eyes crushed and heartbroken, and Jace looks away. It’s better in the long run for everyone, for Simon if it’s like this. It’s one of the most cliche things Jace has ever chosen to believe in, but it’s a cliche for a reason - because it’s true. 

“Have you considered,” Alec says carefully, too carefully, “that Simon is a grown adult who can make his own choices about what’s good for him or bad for him?” 

“It’s not that simple.”  Jace says, and then when Alec looks guilty and opens his mouth again he frowns, putting the bolt of cloth down. “Did Simon put you up to this?”

Alec looks away, shrugging. “I wouldn’t say put me up to it,” he says quietly, “you’re sad, and he’s sad - “

“Alec - “ Jace says with growing dread, and his heart starts to speed up as all the misery he’s been holding back about losing Simon floods in; his hands start to shake. 

“You were so happy, and he - “ Alec continues, still pushing, and Jace is being crushed under the weight of his mistakes, and then suddenly Simon is by his side in an instant like a knight in shining armor, muttering “It’s okay, it’s okay, Alec, you don’t have to, it’s okay.” 

“Simon.” Alec says in surprise. “I thought you were okay with me talking to him.” 

Simon has his hands out, gazing carefully at Jace, who’s frozen in panic. “You’re okay,” he says, his voice low and soothing, “breathe for me, Jace, you’re okay. I won’t push about this again. It’s okay, Alec,” he repeats, turning slightly, “it’s freaking him out and that’s the last thing I wanted, you don’t have to - “

“You were listening?” Jace finally manages to ask hoarsely. Simon looks at him strangely, and out of the corner of his vision he can see Alec backing away slowly, heading towards Magnus and giving them some privacy in the corner of the pavilion. 

“Vampire hearing?” He says, puzzled. “I can’t really help it. And I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked Alec to talk to you, I totally respect your decision to - “ He falters, his confidence breaking for the first time. “You know.” 

“Right.” Jace’s breathing is going back to normal, and he stares at Simon, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. “Because what I did to you was so fair that you’re apologizing to me - “ He sounds hysterical, even to his own ears, but he’s tired, so very tired, and Magnus and Alec are getting married, and he misses the feeling of waking up next to Simon. 

Simon’s mouth parts, but he doesn’t say anything at first. Jace’s eyes flick to Simon’s lips, still as soft-looking as he remembers them, and Simon swallows convulsively. He’s uncertain, his eyes frighteningly honest, and it breaks Jace’s heart all over again.

“Well, yeah.” Simon finally says, his voice low. “You’re clearly uncomfortable, and I - I don’t ever want to make you feel like - I want you to be happy, and that - “

Jace can’t hear anything past the rushing in his ears; he fists his hands in Simon’s shirt and yanks him forward, crushing their mouths together with all the pent-up desperation from the last few weeks. Simon lets out a pained, shuddering breath under him, and then he presses back equally as desperately, like it’s the last time he’ll get to do this. His hands are everywhere, skimming up Jace’s back, tugging at the base of his hair, sliding up the warm skin of his neck. Jace presses closer, slides an arm around Simon’s waist, and lines them up flush together, in the way he knows Simon likes, where his heartbeat echoes through both of their chests, pressed as close as possible. The kiss is sad and heartbroken and beautiful all at once, and Jace tries to pour all his love for Simon into it, tries to make it mean as much as his battered heart has to give. 

“Jace,” Simon gasps, sounding like he’s drowning as he pulls away, “please, I - “

“Will you take me back?” Jace asks hoarsely. “I’m sorry, I know what I did was stupid and awful, but I’m selfish and I - I want this, us, back - “

“Yes,” Simon nods fervently, a grin spreading on his face and his eyes lighting up, “yes, yes, yes to all of it. Always, I - I love you, you have to know that, you idiot.” 

“I love you too.” Jace breathes out, and he tugs Simon close and kisses him again, and for the first time in weeks he feels like himself again.