Hello!

This idea came to me after I watched Matthew Daddario's recent live chat, in which he was once again dropping hints like no tomorrow which I hope is true. Now, we all know how much Matt wants to be able to wear a beard in Shadowhunters at least once, and the only possible way for that to happen would be in the early hours of the morning...possibly at Magnus's...after spending the night... Anyway, it got me thinking, what if Magnus liked Alec with a beard? So here we are now...

I tried to keep them in character but I think I got a little overwhelmed by how adorably cute this ended up being. This story has small spoilers from the By the Light of Dawn episode but there aren't enough to spoil the whole episode. There is a small cameo from Catarina Loss at the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters (I wish I did though).

Thanks go out to hmweasley who very kindly beta read this for me. Please go check out some of her stories. They are awesome. Please feel free to leave a review as well. I love getting feedback.

Enjoy!

The Scruff

Alec raised an eyebrow at Magnus with an amused smile as he casually leaned against the doorway to the adjoining bathroom of Magnus's room.

"Really, this does it for you..?" Alec laughed quietly as he gestured to the days old stubble along his jaw. Magnus felt his heart skip a beat in his chest, letting his eyes take in every last rugged detail.

"Believe me, Alexander. I am just as surprised as you, dear," Magnus replied in a hushed tone, not trusting his voice to speak any louder. Just looking at the stubble on Alec's face caused endless possibilities – every single one of them positively sinful – to appear in Magnus's mind. "Do you have to shave it off? Couldn't you keep it a little longer, just one more day perhaps?"

Alec shook his head as a smile appeared on his face. "I'm afraid so, Magnus. I can't go to the Institute looking like I've just rolled out of bed. It's unprofessional."

Magnus gave him a deadpan look. "Then don't go to the Institute today. Stay with me…"

"As much as I'd like to, I can't." Alec sighed before he turned his back to Magnus and disappeared into the bathroom. Magnus bit his lip to keep the disappointed whine from escaping his mouth. Alec's voice carried into the room, followed by the sound of a running tap. "I've got too much to do there. We've still got to interrogate Valentine on where he's hidden the Mortal Cup and who's taken the Soul Sword, because I don't believe for a second that he doesn't know who has it."

"Couldn't someone else do that?" Magnus pouted. "I mean, it's not every day that you get time off."

Alec poked his head around the door and stared at him incredulously. "I've spent the last two days with you. That's more time off than anyone has ever gotten. I'm lucky I haven't had Aldertree – or worse my mother – nagging me about it."

"All the more reason for you to stay for a bit longer." Magnus grinned mischievously. Alec rolled his eyes and returned to his morning routine. "Anything to annoy old Alder-branch is fine with me."

Alec paused in thought as he idly considered the idea before he shook his head. "I agree with you there, but unfortunately he's still my boss until the Clave says otherwise." Alec let out a sigh. What he wouldn't give to have his parents running the Institute…Then again, maybe it would be better if he and Lydia were running it instead. It wasn't as if his parents were any less strict than Aldertree was now. "Besides, don't you want your spell book back?"

Magnus shifted on his bed as he peered through the doorway to get a better view as Alec slowly dressed in his gear. "Of course I want it back but I don't get what that has to do with you shaving off the scruff."

With a wave of his hand, a bowl of shaving cream and Alec's razor appeared in his lap. Magnus waited patiently, listening quietly as Alec stopped dressing. "Magnus, what have you done with my razor?"

Magnus grinned like a naughty schoolboy as Alec appeared half dressed in the doorway with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking sternly at Magnus whilst trying not to laugh. Magnus casually leaned back against the headboard and waved his hand making the razor and shaving cream vanish into thin air. "What razor?" Magnus asked innocently.

"Where have you hidden it, Magnus?" Alec asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Magnus.

"I haven't the faintest idea of what you mean." Magnus grinned, his eyebrow quirking at Alec in an almost come hither gesture. Alec took the bait as he strode forward, kneeled down on the bed and straddled Magnus's lap.

"Don't lie to me, Magnus. You know exactly what I mean," Alec murmured, leaning forward and pressing a small trail of kisses up Magnus's throat. Magnus closed his eyes and tipped back his head in bliss, grinning widely as he felt Alec's stubble lightly scratch against his skin. Alec turned his head to whisper in his lover's ear. "Where have you hidden my razor?"

Magnus couldn't believe how turned on he was. He had never been the type of person to find beards or stubble attractive before, preferring his lovers to be clean shaven, but somehow Alec made the whole thing look incredibly hot. Add in the fact that Alec was half naked and casually straddling his lap, Magnus was having a hard time focussing. By Lilith, Alec has some fantastic abs…Magnus quietly thought as he trailed his fingers along Alec's torso.

"Probably somewhere in the Mediterranean, I don't know." Magnus shrugged as he leaned forward and pulled Alec into a kiss, his fingers lightly stroking Alec's face.

Alec suddenly pulled away and stared at Magnus disbelievingly. Magnus huffed in disappointment. "Are you serious? You're buying me a new one then."

"Fine, as long as you keep this for tonight." Magnus ran a finger along Alec's jaw and quirked his eyebrow suggestively.

Alec let out a long sigh and pressed a small kiss to Magnus's lips. "If I must…But it's gone straight away tomorrow morning."

"You're such a tease, Alexander." Magnus grinned against Alec's lips. Alec rolled his eyes and kissed Magnus affectionately before he reluctantly pulled away, getting to his feet and returning to the bathroom to finish dressing in his gear.

When he finally made his way into the living room, he found Magnus standing in his dressing gown holding a paper bag and cup. Magnus smiled at Alec fondly, gesturing to the objects in his hands. "Taki's finest breakfast bagel with crispy bacon, just the way you like it and a large black coffee."

Alec smiled. "No milk?"

"No milk. Or sugar, you strange man." Magnus nodded with a scrunch of his nose.

"Thank you." Alec smiled and pressed a kiss to Magnus's cheek, before taking a sip of his coffee. He felt a buzz ricochet through his body as the coffee slipped down his throat. "Hmm, that's really good. So, what are your plans for today?"

Magnus had to shake himself out of his daydream, dragging his attention from Alec's stubble. "Catarina is bringing young Madzie around later so that we can make arrangements to get her back to Iris Rouse. Personally if it were up to me, I would have her kept as far away from that reprobate warlock as possible for her own sake." Magnus shrugged his shoulders and let out a deep sigh. "But unfortunately, that isn't the case. Sometimes I wonder if being High Warlock means anything these days."

"I'm sure you'll both work something out." Alec said as he headed towards the front door and shouldered his bow and quiver. "I've got to get going but I'll try and call you on a break."

"I'll get us takeout then when you come back." Magnus reached around Alec and opened the door behind him. He pressed a tender kiss to Alec's lips and pulled back with a grin. "Definitely liking the stubble… Stay safe."

"I will." Alec pressed his forehead against Magnus's and lowered his voice until it was just quiet enough for them both to hear. "I love you."

Magnus beamed as he suddenly felt almost giddy with emotion. "I love you too."

Leaning in for one last kiss, Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec's waist, tugging him close by his belt loops and pressing a tender kiss against Alec's mouth. Alec pressed into him, putting everything he had into the kiss since he was unable to touch Magnus unless he wanted to risk spilling his breakfast on him. When Magnus finally broke off the kiss, Magnus cheekily swatted Alec's backside.

"Magnus!" Alec exclaimed, a bright red blush exploding on his cheeks as he stared at Magnus with wide eyes.

Magnus let out a laugh and gave Alec a devilish smile. "What? I couldn't help myself. Sue me."

Alec smiled at Magnus shyly as he shuffled along the hall, passing one of Magnus's mundane neighbours along the way. Mrs Chaudhury, an elderly woman with an affinity for buying budgies and letting them loose all over Magnus's balcony, pursed her lips at Alec as he passed and then sent a disapproving look at Magnus.

"Good morning, Mrs Chaudhury. Did you sleep well last night?" Magnus inquired innocently, ignoring the look on her face. Mrs Chaudhury tutted loudly before she shuffled on her way. Magnus shrugged his shoulders and closed his front door.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned his phone and dialled his friend Catarina with a grin. After the seventh ring, she answered with a yawn. "Magnus, can you call me back later? I'm a bit busy with Madzie here."

"Good morning to you too, Catarina," Magnus chirped as he made his way into the living room. "I was just calling for a chat that's all."

"If this is about that Nephilim of yours again, then I swear I -"

"But he's got stubble this morning, Catarina!" Magnus exclaimed, flopping down on his couch. "I thought he couldn't get any sexier but he's just proved me wrong."

"Oh, for the love of… Goodbye, Magnus," Catarina replied in an annoyed tone before she promptly hung up.

Magnus stared at his phone with a pout. Catarina just didn't understand the gravity of Magnus's attraction to Alec. He was unashamed to admit that he found himself completely smitten with the young Shadowhunter. Theirs might have been a bit of a whirlwind relationship, but he couldn't deny that he loved every second of it. It was rare that Magnus had ever felt this strongly for anyone this quickly and he hoped it lasted for a long, long time.