PART I
Two days.
Well, actually, it had been a week since Alec had last seen Magnus. But it had been two days since they last spoke. It was his own fault. He had called him as what had become part of their nightly routine. This time Jace was in the background making all kinds of noise but Alec could not hear the actual words, so he kept asking what was going on which just sent Magnus off the edge. He shot back with his trademark annoyance with Jace, 'if you want to know so much about Jace why don't you call him and not me.' That was it that was the last thing Magnus had said to him. He tried to call him but he would not answer, he got nothing on the first night, but the second night he got a single text; 'working.' So, here he stood once again waiting outside Magnus' door, this time, however, he wasn't alone, he had Clary in tow with him. She was here for Jace and he was here for Magnus it was just no one knew it. They had just got off patrol and Clary had been bugging them for days to go see Jace but the Clave had slammed them with patrols for that very reason, to keep them away from Jace. Izzy had returned to the Institute while they headed to Magnus'. Clary didn't know the door would always be unlocked and Alec didn't feel like explaining why he knew that so there he stood while she knocked and he sighed.
The finally swung open to reveal the High Warlock of Brooklyn; with his spiky black hair and vibrated red hair tip plus the glitter. Always the glitter.
Alec heard Jace going on about something in the background.
Clary made her greeting to Magnus, and he welcomed her back with his trademark term 'biscuit,' Alec wasn't sure where it had started but it was something Magnus always called her.
Alec stayed on the balcony entryway; he couldn't take his eyes off Magnus, he always looked so much better in person. But now that he was looking at him, he felt this sudden fear that maybe he wasn't welcome anymore. He was overcome by it which held him in place.
"Hello, Alexander." Magnus held onto the door, just staring.
"Alec!" Jace's voice carried out to him. "Come here. We need to talk."
Alec stayed in place; this was Magnus' home he didn't feel he had a right to enter unless Magnus gave him permission. He zeroed in on the cat-eyes staring back at him.
"Go." Magnus tipped his head towards the annoying voice of Jace. He knew what Alec was waiting for; what he was always waiting for.
Alec sent Magnus an apologetic look before walking past him to see what Jace was yelling about.
Magnus reached out to place it on Alec's shoulder; he knew he wouldn't get by with more but the simple gesture. He let him go within seconds to shutting the door. He wanted to see Alec, but he felt such pain and annoyance from Alec's love for Jace.
Alec went into the living room area where Jace was in Alec's spot on the couch with Clary in Magnus' spot. It didn't sit well with him that Jace and Clary were in their spots. He just stared at him as Jace spent more time speaking to Clary, "Jace?"
"Alec, why haven't you been answering your phone? I've been calling you for days. Izzy and Clary are the only ones who have answered." Jace looked at him with a perplexed look.
Magnus came into the room and threw himself down in his oversized armchair, arching an eyebrow at Alec. So, Alec wasn't talking to Jace at the same time he wasn't talking to him. That meant something to him, but he wasn't sure what at the moment.
"Doesn't matter." Jace cut in before Alec could even answer. "Izzy and Clary told me what the Clave was doing to you guys. Any chance you want to stay in tonight with Magnus while I go out with Clary."
"Jace," Clary hit his arm, "You can't ask that of Alec. Him staying locked up because you want to patrol."
"I want to do more than patrol; I want some alone time with you. I miss you." Jace looked hurt at her for not thinking of that either.
"Yeah, go," Alec spoke from his place in the center of the room.
Jace was up and over to him in a heartbeat, "Give me your stele."
Alec pulled it out of his side pocket and handed the item to Jace. Jace went into the room he was staying at for his leather jacket and his combat boots.
Clary came over to him then, "Thanks, Alec." Alec saw her moved but didn't expect the gesture so he froze, she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Have fun with Magnus." She whispered the last part in his ear; he furrowed his brow at her. Clary and Izzy were the only two who knew he was gay, so, now he had to guess that she saw something was up with him and Magnus.
Jace came back then, spotting Clary leaning close to Alec, "What's up?"
"Nothing, just telling Alec thanks for staying." Clary marched over to the door to wait for Jace.
"Yeah, do me a favor and talk some sense into this warlock, he's kind of messy." Jace patted him on the back as he walked by.
"Shut up, Shadowhunter," Magnus called from his spot; he was now sitting up straighter in the armchair, watching the scene play out in front of him. He was glad for the Shadowhunter to begone from his sight, the offending Shadowhunter was beginning to grate on his nerves. He was ready to tell the Clave to take him back. But he wouldn't do that, that would hurt Alec and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Even if he was more annoyed then ever before in his life at the stupid Shadowhunters, he still cared for Alec and wasn't going to hurt him by turning his parabatai back under Clave control. "Don't get hurt; you have until dawn."
Jace waved him off and left with Clary.
Alec felt a sting of pain in his arm, he was nervous to be along with Magnus again, he thought he got over that weeks ago but it was back and he was back to not knowing what to do.
Magnus eyed his Shadowhunter; something wasn't right with him. "Alec, you can sit down." He narrowed his eyes at him; something really wasn't right. Magnus stood up to look at him; he was pale. He had also lost weight since the last time he saw him, Magnus didn't think he had any weight to lose since from what he saw and knew, Alec was all muscle.
Alec winced, he didn't feel right, but he was finally alone with Magnus in over a week. He didn't want to ruin it by saying he didn't feel right or going home. He just had to deal with it.
Magnus gave Alec a once over and that's when he saw it, his sleeve had been cut open, he followed the line of sight down, there was blood on his hand and it was flowing enough to drip on his floor. Alec was bleeding a lot, how had neither of the Shadowhunters noticed that Alec was pale. "Alec is there a reason you're bleeding on my floor."
"What?" Alec suddenly felt the pain again, enticing a new wince. He looked down and there was blood, it was dripping from the end of his fingertips. He swayed a little on his feet.
"Alec!" Magnus came forward, grabbing his Shadowhunter by the shoulders before he toppled over. "What happened?"
Alec couldn't focus his eyes, he did get up close and personal with a demon an hour ago but he didn't feel any part of him get slashed. "I'm fine. I just need to clean up." Alec pushed on Magnus' arm with his good one, hoping he would let him go. "I need my stele." Which he reached for momentarily forgetting Jace currently had his stele, that was stupid of him to give it out when Clary would have hers with her.
"Yeah, you're so fine. You didn't even know you were hurt." Magnus pulled him forward and forced him into the armchair he just vacated. "So, worry about seeing your parabatai." Magnus began pulling up Alec's sleeve. He knew he was being childish, but the words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Hold still."
Alec tried to pull his arm away from Magnus but the warlock was currently winning on the strength department.
Magnus pulled up his sleeve and found the cut; it was on his forearm. The cut was deep but it didn't look like there was any venom or poison in the wound but it wasn't healing on its own, so there was defiantly something demon-ish about it. There was no way just washing it would fix this. He needed his stele or magic and they didn't have his stele. "This is going to sting." Magnus snapped his fingers and glittery, blue smoke of magic appeared.
"Magnu-" Alec started but had to grit his teeth when Magnus pushed the magic into his arm; it didn't just sting, it burned. Alec felt like a red-hot poker had been stabbed into his arm, "Fuck, Magnus." He tried to pull his arm back on reflex but Magnus was holding his wrist down; what felt like hours was only a few minutes then the pain stopped. He was hot and sweaty all over; he felt himself coming down the high that the magic and pain caused. His breathing slowly came back to normal and he opened his eyes. Magnus was on his knees next to him, looking the same as he always did. Alec finally glanced down at his arm and saw the cut was healed, a white line form there, and he knew that would be a scar. He noticed the caked-on blood next, some of it dried out and brown while some of it was still bright red. He stood up in a flash forcing Magnus back, his Shadowhunter speed still in full effect. He noticed the blood on the couch and the trail leading back to the small pool that had formed on Magnus' floor. "Oh god. I'm sorry." He lifted his arm up to keep any more of the blood from dropping from his arm. "I should go wa-"
Magnus stood up just as fast as Alec after being knocked off balance; his brain was slow to process that Alec was sorry. He felt him begin to retreat from him. He couldn't let that happen, or his Shadowhunter would have locked himself in the bathroom all night, feeling sorry for bleeding on his floor. In a flash without Alec noticing he pulled him on the back of the neck to kiss him, he wanted Alec to kiss him back but he wasn't. He was just standing there; mouth closed with wide eyes. Magnus pulled back then leaned in again but Alec turns his head, he used his other hand to get Alec to look at him again and kissed him, he was mentally pleading with Alec to open up and kiss him back. When that didn't work, he tried something new, "Alexander, please." He whispered against his mouth, which seemed to work.
Alec tilted his head and closed his eyes, the sound of his name on Magnus' lips did something to him internally. He sighed, which Magnus' took full advantage off and kissed him again, slipping his tongue into Alec's mouth. Alec had no choice but to kiss him back; the need was too strong; there was no holding back now. He let it continue until Magnus moved closer, pushing into his hurt arm which pulled Alec back to the present. He still needed to clean up the blood. Alec stepped back fast, leaving Magnus confused. He looked down and frowned, some of his blood had rubbed off on Magnus' bright colored shirt where his fashion coat had pulled open.
Magnus saw him staring at his stomach and looked down, noticing the blood. He focused on just a little too long he realized as Alec spoke and walked away.
"Sorry." Alec was able to turn them and go the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Hoping Magnus would get the hint for just a moment and leave him be. He wanted to be out there with Magnus on the rare moment they were talking lately but really needed to wash the blood away, he didn't know why but he felt like Magnus shouldn't be seeing this part of his job. Like he needed to keep him from the dark side where he killed demons for a living. He knew that was stupid of course Magnus would know about his line of work but that didn't mean much when he wanted to keep Magnus from getting dirty with his deeds.
Magnus just watching him go this time, he felt he had to as much as he didn't want to. With a snap of his fingers the blood was gone from his chair and the floor. He went back to the bedroom, changing would give him enough time to allow Alec to wash up before storming the gates of his own bathroom. He had his shirt over his head when he finally heard the water turn on. Changing his shirt took all of five seconds, he changed into a black shirt with vibrate red words on it 'bite me' with a pair of fangs on either side of the word. He heard the water shut off then; he went to stand against his door frame hoping Alec would come out right away but it took him another minute before he was graced with Alec's face. He had taken his leather jacket off which he carried in his hands, but his sleeve was rolled back down over his new scar, it was wet from what Magnus assumed Alec trying to rinse the blood away. Alec's hair was also wet and messy from a quick towel dry; his face was also slightly red from the water and pat down.
Alec looked at Magnus; he knew he would be waiting for him. He needed to clean the blood and sweat from him before facing the Warlock. He looked at him then at his shirt with a frown.
"Humor," Magnus stated, he knew what he was frowning at. "You have to find the humor in life, Alec, or that frown will become a permanent place on your face, and your smile is too beautiful not to see."
Alec went to step forward but hesitated, what was standard protocol when you just dripped blood all over your boyfriend's apartment, he didn't think that was in the rulebook somewhere. "I'm-"
"Do not finish that sentence. I get it your sorry, big deal. You think that's the first time anyone every bleed across my things." Magnus kicked himself off the door jamb and came to him. "Now, do I have to kiss you again to make you comply or are you just going to come with me?"
"What?" But Alec didn't get an answer he just got Magnus pulling on his arm, he got him to the bedroom and shut the door. "Magnus."
"Shut up." He pushed Alec hard until he was sitting on his bed, Magnus knelt down in front of him to remove Alec's combat boots, throwing them one at a time over his shoulder by one of his chairs in the corner, next came Alec's jacket. Magnus moved in to remove his hip hustler when Alec put his hands over his. The straps were in a very intimate location, but Magnus didn't care, he was going to touch his boyfriend there eventually. Magnus wave his hand and Alec was sent back to laying down, he hated using magic on his like that, but it was just a small gust of wind to get him down; it allowed him enough time to work the straps on his legs and belt to get the offending item off. He threw that onto the pile with the rest of Alec's items as Alec sat up again. Magnus raised from his knees and met Alec's lips in a searing kiss. Magnus pushed forward, forcing Alec to lay back again without the use of magic this time. He leaned over his boyfriend, putting a knee between his legs to rest on the edge of the bed while both of his hands were flat on the mattress on either side of his head. They were only touching at their lips, which Magnus used to press Alec into the bed, and his groin where Magnus' knee was on the bed.
Alec could only keep his hands at his sides for so long, the need to touch Magnus out weighted his brain and put them on his waist, the slim strip of skin that was exposed where Magnus' shirt had raised up. Once a few fingers touched his glittery sides he needed more, he pushed his hands up his shirt to get them full on touching, feeling his abs and stomach, raising the shirt much higher.
Magnus moved one hand then to cup the side of Alec's face; he forced his head back to angle the kiss which allowed him to pull Alec's top lip into his mouth. He sucked on it, letting it out of his mouth with a pop, then going in for more.
Alec moaned at the feeling Magnus was creating in him; he unconsciously moved his hips against Magnus' knee.
Magnus was up and back a few steps.
Alec's arms stayed in place up in the air, licking his lips as he sat up, "What happened?"
"Too fast."
When Magnus didn't elaborate, Alec stood up, "Right." He shook his head and walked around Magnus to grab his gear and went out to the living room with Magnus close behind him. Alec looked at the floor then the chair which just an hour ago, both were clean now. "I should go." He spoke not looking at Magnus.
"You can't. Not until Jace comes back." Magnus stayed at the entry from the hallway to the living room.
"Great." Alec sighed, speaking under his breath.
"Yes, it is great. Alone time with your boyfriend."
"Except for any time you get Jace in your head and pick a fight with me." Alec threw his jacket and boots to the ground; he was usually the timid one.
Magnus came further into the room. "I'm jealous."
"Well stop."
"My boyfriend is in love with his parabatai. How do you not be jealous?" Magnus went back to his armchair. He wasn't use to Alec being so vocal about anything let alone Magnus' horrible relationship with Jace, the blonde wonder.
Alec didn't have the same feelings for Jace that he once had, he had thought they covered this the last time they fought but clearly, he and Magnus were on different pages, again. This was never going not to be a problem between them, Jace would always be his parabatai. He would be lying if he said he didn't love Jace because he would always love Jace but he wasn't in love with him, or he didn't think so. "He'll always be in my life."
"I'm aware." Magnus was lazily leaning back in the chair. "And me? How long will I be in your life?"
"How long do you want to be in my life?"
"Answering a question with a question." Magnus smirked, "The best way to ignore a question you don't want to answer."
"Maybe because you're making it impossible." Alec stepped closer to him. He was right in front of the chair now, looking down at Magnus. "For the last few weeks you have gone on and on about Jace and how much be bothers you. Do you really want me? Or am I just another way to annoy Jace?"
Magnus was up in a flash, going toe to toe with him, "I am not with you to annoy the blonde wonder."
"Why is it we are only good with each other when we're hiding? When no one knows. But times when Jace or anyone knows I'm here, it's a problem for us." Alec wanted to step back, but that would be backing down and he wasn't ready for that. Something told him if he backed down now it would be the end. He wasn't prepared for the end, in truth he wanted to tell Magnus he wanted him always in his life. Was it too soon to be feeling that way? Would he assume it was a rebound against his feeling for Jace? He truly was terrible at being in relationships.
"Hiding makes it hot."
"Shut up." Alec really didn't know what he was doing. "Can we never come out of hiding?"
"Not now." Magnus knew Alec wasn't ready for that; he wouldn't be ready for that any time soon. The Clave wasn't going to understand and neither was his parents, they would stay secret for a while. "Alexander."
Alec looked at him; he wasn't looking at him in the eyes, so he made his move. He grabbed Magnus by the shirt, much, in the same manner, he did on the night of their first kiss, first kiss. "Magnus," He pushed him hard, so he went back to his armchair, Alec barely gave him time to sit up straight before he was on him, kissing Magnus with his hands spread wide of each arm, he moved in closer to him, a step at a time. He pulled his head back when he got to close, and the angle became odd for him to be still standing. "I don't want to talk about Jace. I don't love him the way you think I do but I can't seem to make you understand that with words. They were never my strong suit." He went in for a quick kiss and backed out again, "I don't know how long we are going to be in each other's lives but I don't want to waste it as we have been."