It was a beautiful lobby. Stained glass windows with rose tint on one side of his shoulders, crystal chandelier above his head, Alec Lightwood wondered what had conspired in the backdrop of planning this trip to lead him to this beautiful room with the most beautiful man he had ever known. He sat on a red plush chair, taking in his surroundings: aforementioned windows and lighting, fruit basket on the breakfast bar, flat screen TV that was currently turned off. "We reserved a room…" he could hear Magnus's voice talking to a hotel worker in the background. He remembered that voice, that beautiful, velvety voice, leading him here…
They had been at the apartment two weeks ago, laying around watching Indiana Jones movies and eating popcorn on their couch. As the credits began to roll for The Raiders of the Lost Ark, Magnus suddenly snapped his fingers, turning off the television, and snuggled Alec closer to him. "Wouldn't it be great," he asked his boyfriend in a quiet voice, "if we could go on an adventure like that?" Alec looked dumbfounded. So much had been going on lately- he was only just starting to feel settled in after the Mortal War- his life already kind of felt like an adventure. Magnus, seeming to be able to read his mind, continued. "Well, okay, maybe not exactly the sa, me kind of adventure as Indiana Jones. Or anything involving danger and war. I'm talking more about… our own adventure." Alec was confused, but gave a little nod so that Magnus would not think that he was being unreceptive.
"What are you saying, Magnus?" He felt Magnus reach down and open his hand just enough to weave their fingers together. By the Angel, Alec just couldn't get enough of him.
"I propose," Magnus started, "that you and I go on a vacation. I have long liked to travel, and on my travels I have seen many couples having a good time together. I was always a little… jealous, that everyone had someone like that to travel with except me. Now I have someone to go with." Magnus lowered his head even closer to Alec's face to the point that his mouth was almost touching his ear. "What do you say?"
"I- I- uh… you've had people to go, uh, on vacation with before?"
"No one I wanted to travel with, love. No one I cared about like you." Ignoring Alec's blush and obvious nervousness, Magnus continued. "Please, my Alexander. See the world with me. I want to experience everything in this world with you."
Alec blanched. He had no idea how to even respond to that. He couldn't just leave his whole life behind and fly around the world with his boyfriend- that wasn't how being a Shadowhunter worked. He supposed that if he asked them, Jace and Izzy could hold down the fort, but who would be there to protect them? What would his parents say? What would Robert say, Robert, who had not spoken to Alec as an actual person since he told him he was dating Magnus? Who would pay for the trip? No, as tempting as it was, Alec had to refuse. Initially, he did. Magnus looked disappointed, but brought Alec's hands up to his face and kissed him anyway. Alec felt terrible, but Magnus held him closer. "Then, I respect your decision," he told Alec, popping the next movie into the DVD player, but they both knew that neither of them were paying attention anymore.
::P::P
Alec should have known better than to tell Isabelle. He was just so used to telling his sister about his relationship with Magnus that it had begun to seem completely natural to do so- she was always really receptive to what he had to say and very supportive of his relationship. Today, though, she was less than supportive of his decision to refuse.
"Oh, by the Angel," Izzy said in response. Alec could practically hear her rolling her eyes over the phone. "Why did you say no? It would be fun. You've been through so much crap, Alec, you deserve this. You do want to go, right?"
His response was instantaneous. "It's not practical," he said flatly, which was his default response to everything involving his own happiness.
"But you want to."
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter, Iz. Think about it. How could I ever-"
"It doesn't matter!" she interrupted. "Don't you think you deserve this, Alec? Really? You know that Magnus can afford it. He travels. He knows the good places. Jace and I can hold down the Institute along with Mom and Clary, it isn't like we're exactly on call for many hunts, anyway. There really aren't that many demons anyway. We'll be okay. I'll talk to mom."
Something like hope flared up in Alec's chest, but he put the flame out immediately. No, he thought. "Dad."
"What?"
"Dad will flip his shit, Izzy. You know that, He hates me." Alec felt a pang. His dad's rejection was probably the second most painful thing in his life right now, after losing Max. Max… he missed his little brother so much. "And how could I leave mom now, after…" Max died. He couldn't say it. Max died, Max died. Max died…
"Alec," Isabelle said gently. "You need to do something for yourself for the first time onyour life. Screw dad, he's off in Alicante anyway, playing Inquisitor. I know he isn't Inquisitor yet, but seriously, it's only a matter of time. Screw him, Alec. Screw him for not loving you unconditionally. Screw him. Stop caring what he thinks. You are going on vacation with your boyfriend. I'll talk to mom for you, okay?"
Alec didn't feel like arguing. "Fine." Again, there was that flare of hope. This time, he didn't squander it.
::P::P
At about 2 AM, Alec's phone lit up. He gently disentangled himself from Magnus, as to not wake the warlock, and looked at the screen. Mom, the screen said, and he flipped it open, expecting the worse. Groaning at the light, he entered his password and read the text.
Have fun on your trip, sweetie. Love you. Mom.
He fell back asleep with a huge smile on his face. He couldn't wait to wake up to tell Magnus.
::P::P
"We'll throw this dart," Magnus said, holding up a yellow dart to Alec, "at that map, and we'll travel where it lands."
"Can I aim at certain places?"
"Yeah, of course. If there's somewhere I want to go. But blind throws are always encouraged. Puts more adventure in things, you know?" He flashed him a glittery wink. "I love adventure, and adventure loves me."
"I love you, too," Alec said, kissing his cheek. His cheeks went beet red. He was not used to being affectionate, but Magnus seemed to think he was pretty good at it, so he was happy. Magnus handed Alec the dart. "You first."
"Wait, do we go places in the order that they land?"
"Nah. Since we're taking a plane, we'll just go in whatever order is convenient."
Alec sputtered. "Pl…plane? Why?" Alec was horrified. Planes were monsterous. He figured that they would probably just portal from place to place. Magnus smiled brightly.
"Well, yeah. You didn't think I was just gonna portal you everywhere, did you?" Alec blushed crimson, not wanting to say that was exactly what he had been thinking. "Whatever ,love. Flying is an experience- you get to meet so many cool and see so many cool things, looking out the window at the world below. I'll make sure you get a window seat. You'll like it. I promise." Magnus paused. "So, go on, throw the dart?"
Alec did. Alec and Magnus took turns throwing and throwing, until a whole sheet of notebook paper was covered in places to visit. Only two places where the dart was thrown were rejected: Peru and Indonesia. When Alec asked why, Magnus explained that he was banned from Peru and offered to tell the story sometime, but not now. "And Indonesia?" Alec asked. Magnus's face contorted into an expression that Alec didn't recognize- pain? and he simply responded, "There are no good sights to see." Whatever, Alec figured, there were plenty of other cool places to go.
::P::P
Flying had not been as terrible as Alec had imagined, nowhere near as terrible. He actually had enjoyed looking at the world below as he flew over it, the people, the buildings, and, finally, the clouds. Sitting in the lobby, looking at the expensive glass and crystal of his and Magnus's Greek hotel, though, Alec could only look ahead. "Come, darling," Magnus said eventually, walking up and taking his hand with the one that wasn't holding their room key. "Welcome to paradise."
Hello everyone! So I'm finally beginning my new major project. Do you like it? I really hope so, because this story is going to be Malec, Malec, and more Malec! Please drop me a review and let me know what you think. I always love your feedback!