Hello all! Present Sam is here to fix Past Sam's writing(: I started this story when I was 15 so I'm sprucing it up to fit my current standards. You might be reading this before I get a hold of chapter 2 – sorry if you do!(': Enjoy this writing I began with a very basic prompt in mind.
"Where is Clary!" He screeched at the surrounding assistants and models. "She's almost up!"
He knew he was being a nightmare, but he personally thought he had ample reason and right to do so. This was the young man's first chance to prove himself on a scale of this magnitude. The thought alone was enough to excite and stress him enough to want to pull out his stylish, black hair. This show was his baby – his highest culminating project – and it was causing him to sit the women on Bridezilla down and give them a real run for their money and titles. He might not be a stranger to a good night out, but he was married to his work after all.
"I'm here! I'm here Magnus! Sorry but look, I'm ready. Just calm down," Clary soothed as she elbowed through the small half circle of people surrounding him. Her familiar red hair was left down, making it the perfect accent to the dark green gown he had put her in. It was a few shades darker than her bright eyes and had a swoop neck line that showed the barest hint of cleavage. It had traces of golden flecks and vines climbing up the dress from the bottom, and a careful slit, just up to about her mid thigh, could be seen as she walked, showing her pale legs and simple gold heels. The jungle-styled aesthetic gave the young woman a feral atmosphere that hid her actual real-world innocence quite well.
Many designers wouldn't consider hiring a model as short as Clary Fray. Models were often known for their impressive heights and simple, elegantly beautiful faces. While Clary Fray was extraordinarily beautiful, her fiery red hair and height of just over 5 foot, four inches were hardly the characteristics of most successful models.
Magnus Bane wasn't like most designers. Clary Fray was the soul inspiration of this very dress and even a few more from the new line, and it did not seem just for anyone other than the kind redhead to represent the design made for her.
Clarissa "Biscuit" Fray had been Magnus' friend since as far back as high school. The two had been inseparable since the first meeting in their art class of sophomore year. She had talent that rivaled Magnus' own, though hers strayed from the fashion world full of the arguments and perils of feathers verses faux fur and the like. Instead, her artistic inclination and intuition was showcased in the paintings and portraits that she composed.
She was the closest thing to a younger sister that his mind could fabricate, and there wasn't much thought that went in to asking her to help him when he decided to launch his own business into the fashion world. While she may have been more comfortable behind the scenes making sure Magnus did not go completely grey before the premier age of 30 and designing his logos and stationary, she knew Magnus himself was not as comfortable as he let on going through the rest of the infamous Fashion Week without her right by his side, whether it was behind the curtain or out on the runway.
Manus exhaled a big breath and nodded. "Alright Clary, please get in line behind Izzy. Camille is almost done." Magnus started to rub his temples as Clary frowned slightly in concern for her long-time friend and squeezed his hand reassuringly before getting in position by the curtain's opening behind Isabelle.
Isabelle Lightwood was exactly what would come to mind when thinking of a supermodel. She had gorgeous, long black hair that could be compliantly twisted and manipulated by any hair and make up team worth their paychecks, and a stunning face composed of flawless pale skin, sparkling white teeth, and dark eyes that conveyed a tangible presence of mystery and charm. Her looks were some of the closest examples of what Magnus could describe as dangerously beautiful.
Her personality went hand in hand with her above-average appearance. She was charismatic and outgoing, snatching up one of the first open spots in Magnus' new line, landing it as her first opportunity to walk the stage of a New York-hosted Fashion Week. Magnus genuinely adored Isabelle Lightwood, or Izzy as she preferred to be called be friends, which she considered Magnus to be and vise versa. He saw a lot of similarities between himself and the young model, which made his philosophy of keeping work separate than play all the easier, despite her aforementioned beauty.
She was in a dark maroon, floor length gown that shimmered with a silver metallic sheen. It clung to her body like a second skin and swayed between her long legs when she walked. The shimmer hung as if the dress were made of hundred of moving, cohesive facets instead of one sewn-together garment. The neckline was obscenely low, but cut into a tasteful, thin V, showing not too much cleavage to be perceived as scandalous, but rather, quite elegant. The back was almost nonexistent and started at the bottom of her spine, leaving the straps that stretched up to her shoulders thin and narrow.
Magnus suddenly smiled at his choice, now reassured that he had made all the right decisions with the models. He always tended to put his overly beautiful models in the more simple designs because some beauty was better shown as is, without other complications and intricate details. Most of this line was more subdued than the majority of his previous work, but it was it's own kind of risk to Magnus. He adored flare and shock value; he would be the last to deny that fact, but he predicted other designers to follow that first initial thought process as well and stick to it. Magnus whole-heartedly believed that a simple line of designs and effortless beauty would be more eye-catching amidst all the models dressed in incredulous clothing both before and after his girls walked across the stage.
He watched as Camille Belcourt came from the other side of the heavy, black curtain and a grin lit up her face as Izzy high fived the blond girl. Every show had its stressors and normal drama, especially a show of this size and pressure, and Camille was known for having the reputation of a diva (she was the reason for Magnus' work over play mentality afterall), but all of the models got along. Magnus refused to deal with petty arguments between any coworkers and all of his employees knew it. He was proud of himself that he was able to obtain not only wonderfully beautiful and driven models that presented his work perfectly, but who were also almost always tolerable and, in most cases, enjoyable to be around. Magnus might have been the unseen rookie in his line of work, but his name gained a large amount of momentum quickly enough to discourage any of the girls from getting on his bad side, something that was probably a bit more difficult to do than he liked to admit. He could not hold grades to save his life it seemed. It really messed with his chi.
Magnus saw the likeable brunette take a deal breath and let it out in a huff before taking her first step outside the curtain and onto the runway.
The rest of the show went by comically easy. It was amazing to Magnus that it really had gone off without much of a hitch. As the last model was finishing up her walk he let himself breathe and let a careful hand run through his hair, which was spiked up into an array of tasteful spikes and points.
He saw Clary and Izzy talking with another blond model (who he was quite sure was intimidated by him still) back by a row of vanity tables that were now close to empty, now that the stylists were done before the next designer's turn to run the show. There were no other models to get ready and everyone was able to breathe a sigh of relief. The girl, Magnus thinks her name is Mandy, scurried off as they made eye contact. Magnus made a mental note to himself to fix that. He was a good boss after all if he did say so himself.
He strutted over towards the two remaining women and smiled as they turned to him, grins quickly taking over their expressions.
"Magnus! It went amazing! I'm so proud of you!" Clary screeched as she wrapped her small arms around his thin torso. His over 6 foot height towered over his friend's slight frame, and he looked down at her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her back. He knew he would seriously have to bribe her big if she were to ever agree to walk again, but he appreciated her for helping reign in his nerves more than she knew. Magnus was not a man to whom fears and nerves came very often, which meant he was really out of his element when forced to settle them.
"Thank you Clary, though you deserve some credit too. Not as much as me, but some."
Izzy laughed and Clary rolled her eyes and pinched his side before releasing him, but she couldn't completely keep the fond smile off her face. It was not as if anyone could expect anything more cordial from Magnus after being one of his truest friends for so long.
"And you, Miss Lightwood! How do you feel after a show like that? Different than how you'd imagined it?" He asked.
"Miss Lightwood? I'm sorry for interrupting, but your brothers are at the back. They asked if they could see you," a somehow simultaneously nervous and bored looking assistant voiced from behind Izzy before she could respond.
She turned back with an apologetic smile and said, "I should go let them congratulate me. I'll catch you guys after though?"
Magnus smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "Of course, of course. Please do actually. Better that Goldilocks stays back there and doesn't come looking for you where I could run into him."
Izzy laughed and rolled her eyes before nodding and heading off in the direction that the assistant was leading her, hands to himself and clip board clutched tightly. Magnus shot a sideways glance to Clary, who he could see fighting off a smile as she tried to subtly look above the heads of socializing people to where Isabelle was headed. He couldn't help but chuckle, which caused her to shove him lightly in the side with a glare that lacked real malice.
"Oh, I'm only joking. I'm sure he'll be back here to see you anyway," he teased.
Jace Lightwood, the one Lightwood brother Izzy had mentioned that Magnus had actually gotten the pleasure, or as he joked: the unfortunate displeasure, to meet had been to a few practice walks with his sister in the months preparing for the show. He was undeniably good looking with his golden complexion, hair, and eyes; it was like looking at the sun. His ego had to be bigger than the entire state of New York, but being shot down by little Clary Fray, who needed as much focused practice on the stage as possible, must have struck a nerve with the blond. Every other model had been not-so-subtlety eyeing him up, but he choose to talk to the one girl who did not seem to be blown away by his charm and appearance, which was something that seemed to run in the Lightwood family.
Since the first practice he had been to, he had been trying to get Clary's attention and it was starting to work. The effort and determination seemed to be the key to worming his way into Clary's interest. From what Magnus understood they had even made plans to go out just a few days after the shows were finished. He opened his mouth to further tease her when he turned at the sound of an unfamiliarly smooth and deep - but seemingly distressed – voice.
"Max! Where do you think you're going? You were supposed to stay with us."
He could see Izzy walking next to two young men, one recognizably Jace Lightwood. He caught a glimpse of pitch black hair on the other man before he saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.
There was a small boy in glasses, who couldn't have been much older than 11, next to one of the nearby vanities. He had shaggy brown hair, just a few shades darker than Isabelle's own, and his big brown eyes were wide as he looked towards the three. He quickly looked over at Magnus before flushing and giving him a sheepish smile. He scuttled over and stood beside the dark-haired man.
Magnus smiled and thought worriedly though admittedly bemusedly as well, how funny that even at a show like this, the security is distracted enough that a child can slip backstage, without anyone even noticing.
He looked away from the small boy and locked gazes with the black haired man, who must have been his height, if not only a few inches shorter. He had to be related to Izzy because the resemblance was impossible not to notice. He remembered Izzy saying she had more than one brother. Two more in fact: Alec and Max.
His model clearly shared the most similarity with this man. They were alike in so many ways with their shared pale skin tone and black as midnight hair. Both possessed tall height and bodies that looked naturally fit and graceful. Their cheekbones were both gorgeous, though Izzy's were more pronounced, and while the man had a similar soft jaw line, it still held an amount of hardness that Izzy's lacked. The thing that most clearly separated them was their eyes. Where Izzy had brown eyes that were so dark they looked as if they were giving you a glimpse of outer space, his eyes were every shade of blue under the sun. They were an impossible mosaic of cobalt, sapphire, and other shades Magnus couldn't hope to describe.
Those eyes were not only amazing, but they were also staring right at him, growing in size for a fraction of a second before turning his parental-like attention back to what Magnus assumed to be the youngest Lightwood child.
"Sorry Magnus, Max is a bit of a curious kid," Izzy said with a smile as she continued to walk forward with Jace in tow and the man, whom Magnus now assumed must be Alec – or Alex, Magnus was terrible with names sometimes - following behind timidly. The younger brother was at his side, their eyes still locked in a silent conversation.
As Magnus spoke, he didn't shift his focus from Alec. "It's quite alright Iz. Though, I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your other... Brothers," he purred as the corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile, and he felt his head tilt slightly in question.
The way Alec's pale cheeks turned pink was yet another distinction between the two, and a heartbreakingly adorable one at that. This boy was unmistakably shy and reserved, opposed to his loud and boisterous sister, if even that comment could make him flustered.
Magnus could just rip his eyes away from Alec's face in time to catch the grin spreading across Izzy's face. "Right, silly me. Magnus this is my nosey younger brother Max and this is my wonderfully single, older brother Alec. Boys this is my boss Magnus," she introduced with her grin still intact.
Alec's eyes widened in alarm and the pink that had started to fade returned with a vengeance, this time leaving a bright red stain in its place. His head whipped to the side, and he gave Izzy a look that was meant to kill, though all it did to Magnus was make his stomach drop and his imagination boil over with images of a sexy but reserved boy losing his innocence in the heat of a moment – hopefully a moment Magnus was involved in.
He shook himself out of his reverie and smiled at Alec. The response he got was the residue of a still very visible blush that had yet to fade, a mumbled "hello," and a tiny smile that he almost missed. Jesus help him though because he definitely did not miss the shy stretch of lips over perfectly spaced and colored teeth. He kind of had a thing for nice teeth.
"Hello darling. You know you really should teach your sister some manners. I don't have any siblings, but I assume that's part of the responsibility of the oldest, yes? She did manage to bring the undesirable," he said as he jerked a thumb towards Jace, "to practice walks, but hid you all to herself. How rude! Wouldn't you agree?" Magnus smirked as Alec's eyes went to his feet. His shaggy hair fell down and covered his blue eyes but did nothing to hide the crooked smile – presumably at the insult directed at the other Lightwood man, though Magnus would be pleased if it weren't – or muffle the deep, albeit soft, chuckle.
Izzy giggled slightly and Jace could clearly be seen rolling his eyes skyward but Magnus didn't care. All he could really focus on was the small innocent smile on Alec Lightwood's face. A smile caused by him.
"Hey Clary," Jace smirked as he peeked around the small group, clearly less than enthused or entertained at the obvious direction Magnus would be attempting to take the conversation with Alec. "You were great. You look gorgeous." Clary smiled, looking embarrassed but flattered all the same. They quickly walked off and got lost in each other, leaning toward each other as they spoke and smiling the whole time.
Magnus turned away from the odd but (Magnus hated to admit it) fitting pair to see Izzy point to the table of refreshments, and Alec following her finger before nodding and heading off that way without meeting Magnus' eyes again.
Izzy said something to Max before making her way over to where Magnus stood, watching Alec's retreating gaze, not trying to hide the way his eyes followed his dress pant clad backside.
"Sorry again," she said as he turned to her, though she looked anything but.
"I think I can find it in my heart of hearts to forgive you if you were to get me any chance with that brother of yours. I mean the nerve of you Miss Lightwood, honestly! You saw firsthand my disdain for the other one, the walking sun from the freaking Teletubbies with the personality of Narcissus himself, and you could have introduced me to that."
She waved her hand, "Please, I wouldn't even have to do anything. Just go talk to him. You are definitely his type."
He smiled and looked to where Alec was gulping down a water bottle, looking around nervously before his eyes once again met with Magnus'. Magnus couldn't hear the coughing fit he had caused for Alec, but could see his body shake as he struggled to settle the water in his throat as well as the embarrassment on his handsome face. He quickly turned around. Izzy giggled. Magnus sighed. It was all very ridiculous really, but this was an attraction Magnus definitely wanted to explore.
"He acts like such a teenage girl, I swear." Magnus raised an eyebrow at Izzy. Shouldn't she be helping her brother out? Magnus secretly hoped it meant the brunette was on his side and would be willing to risk her brother's embarrassment in order to get him a phone number, or any form of contact really. "At least that means he likes you. Well, in the very least, is attracted to you," she shrugged.
Magnus felt giddy but kept a calm face and raised a single dark eyebrow. "So he doesn't put on that blush for everyone then?"
"Oh, it isn't usually ever this bad, but he doesn't get hit on too often when I'm around to really tell. He's truly perfected the whole 'don't approach me I am not interested in any human contact' vibe, you know?"
"Hmmm well then, I guess the only way to find out is to go seduce your very sexy, very single as you mentioned, older brother, yes?"
"Sure, but Magnus," Izzy started, making him halt and turn slightly to see her serious expression. "I adore the idea of you and my brother together, but I also know you go through boys like a knife through butter. I just want you to know that if you hurt my brother, you will regret ever meeting me. Good luck!" She added cheerfully before she turned back to her youngest brother.
Once he got over the initial shock and, if he was being completely honest, slight shiver of fear at Izzy's threat, he turned back around and walked up to the blue-eyed Adonis.
"Hello, Alec right?" He asked lowly. Alec's back was to him and he jumped as he turned around.
The gulp in his throat was painfully obviously to Magnus and he couldn't help but marvel at the curve of Alec's neck just under his ear. Upon closer inspection Magnus could make out the thick, black lines of a tattoo peeking out of the collar of his dark green button down, running over his milky white collar bone. Magnus didn't ever really consider tattoos to be all that attractive, but imagining Alec shirtless, with inked marks winding around his shoulder and who knows where else, was quite an appealing train of thought.
"Yeah...well, Alexander but-uhm, well never mind. Nobody calls me that anyway. Yeah Alec.. It's uh…just Alec," he finished quietly.
Magnus smiled at the ramble but gave enough of a pause to assure the other man didn't have any other attempt at a sentence lined up "Really? Well then I think I'll just have to call you Alexander if nobody else uses it. You'll find I have a slightly petty nature to want to one up everyone else."
Alec scratched the back of his neck, a move probably designed to take attention away from his reddening face. "O-okay... Um, your show was great by the way. You're really talented."
"Why thank you darling. I'm guessing this isn't exactly your line of expertise though?"
Alec let out a laugh that barely counted as a laugh, and more of a strangled exhale. "No definitely not. Iz always complains about my lack of fashion sense. She wouldn't even let me choose what to wear today. Actually I'm getting my teaching degree right now."
Magnus pictured Alec leaning against a desk in front of a classroom full of teenagers. He could imagine Alec as the teacher that the girls had crushes on and the teacher that made jokes and could act more like a student than a teacher at times. A teacher that garnered respect and didn't get his class on a list that students would rather tear up to use as spit ball ammo. Magnus' smile got bigger at his own created scene, and Alec tilted his head slightly before lowly clearing his throat. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
Magnus looked at him in slight surprise. "Like what? With a smile?"
Alec shrugged, which earned him another grin from Magnus.
"You've got to know that I think you're gorgeous. I'm not trying to be subtle," Magnus admitted. As innocent as Alec was, he seemed like a no-nonsense guy to Magnus.
Alec choked on a small laugh, and Magnus was almost annoyed at him from stopping the sound. Alright, so maybe not a no-nonsense guy exactly, but more of the type that just had to have it laid on pretty thick and spelt out for him when he was being hit on.
"No uh, not really," Alec chuckled.
"So now that we've stated the fact that you're gorgeous and I'm interested," Magnus said, barely containing a laugh when Alec's eyes slightly widened, "the question is: what are we going to do about it?"
Magnus started to trail a single manicured finger up Alec's arm as Alec struggled to find a semi-intelligent response. Magnus wondered if Alec had counted his blessings to have the sense to put the clear plastic cup of water down on the nearby table. Magnus's suit jacket was expensive after all, and did not respond well to water without an immediate dry-cleaning available.
"I...I-uh," he stuttered as Magnus slightly leaned in.
"Magnus! Gorski's line is up next and your interview starts in ten," the stage manager said as he poked his head out from around the corner.
Magnus sighed. "Be right there Kyle."
He turned back to Alec before smirking. He leaned in close and Alec's breath caught, unsure of what a loud and confident man like Magnus Bane was willing to do to a stranger in public and at a work event. He saw Alec's eyes shift and look down at his lips before nervously tugging at his own bottom lip and honing his eyes unto whatever lucky soul found themselves over Magnus' shoulder. Kyle probably. With no small amount of self control, Magnus stayed where he was and reached down into Alec's back pocket, pulling out a small black device.
Alec gasped and jumped slightly, bringing them even closer together, before realizing what Magnus had and slightly backing up. Magnus probably should have made it more clear throughout the interaction that he wasn't actually interested in feeling up an non-consenting partner. It wasn't his intention to spook the man quite this much as fun as it was.
Magnus brought the phone up between them and slid the screen unlocked before opening the contacts app and putting his own number into the phone. He turned the phone back off and took a step forward to slide the phone back into Alec's back pocket. He was careful to let his hand linger there for a moment as he leaned forward to speak into Alec's ear.
"You better call me Alexander," he breathed.
Magnus turned abruptly and headed for the door the stage manager had went through and only turned to send one last wink to Alec, who was an alarmingly red color from head to toe.
As Magnus headed over to the interviewers and reporters, he turned his phone back on with a smile.