Sure, Alec's choice of location for his new flat may have been somewhat influenced by the fact that his favourite YouTuber – TheHighWarlock – lived at one place or another within the area… But Alec was a realistic type of guy. He figured that there was less than 0.1 per cent chance of even glimpsing them. Anyway, there were responsibilities that Alec could not neglect.

He had a couple of jobs now. By some miracle he'd got a job as a Barista in a local café. This meant that he only had to walk down the street to reach it, which was ideal. He'd also gone and bagged a Friday night shift at the club Intensity. At first Alec had felt uncomfortable walking in to the club for his interview, however the boss ("Mr Fell, but you can call me Ragnor") was very welcoming and friendly. Besides, Alec needed the extra money.

Alec had also to make certain that his new home was a place Jace and Izzy could visit easily. Seen as they were both too young to move out, he wanted them to have a relaxed environment they could escape to, when life with their parents took its toll. Being in the Lightwood family house was not a desirable thing for any of them, after all the problems they'd had finally caused rifts between everybody. In many ways Alec was thankful for having the opportunity to move out because of his age.

The 'Institute' – as everyone called it – was a grand thing. From the outside it was a beautiful carved structure of architecture, perfect to the eye. Bare stone walls and marbled floors lined the interior of the building, with high ceilings and arching stairways that swept to the upper floors. It was the same throughout. Most people would've gasped at the carefully constructed rooms and posh décor. It was a house many would give up everything to live in…If only they knew what it was like for the Lightwood children.

Alec had never been able to seek comfort by sitting and soaking up the warmth of a cosy fireplace on a comfy sofa in a carpeted room with a homely red rug on the floor. Nope, Alec had certainly never gotten the pleasure of playing family games one Saturday night, or having a movie marathon with everybody gathered around the TV, and having to complain about Jace stealing his popcorn whilst his Mother hushed them both in fear of missing an important part.

All Alec knew was the hard face of stone, married with the unfeeling tiled floors which caused an echo that haunted the whole of the building whenever somebody was bold enough to move out from the suffocating silence. The clinical feel of his bedroom, bearing only the essentials. He'd grown up with coldness of the 'Institute' being reflected in his parents' actions towards him.

Ever since Alec was about aged thirteen, Robert and Maryse Lightwood had rarely been seen together. They would shut themselves into separate offices and not come out for hours. The living room was left empty, like a barren wasteland that eventually even Alec dared not enter, the hopes of a loving and secure environment rotting along with it.

It had not always been that way. Alec could remember a time where his parents were exciting and enthusiastic. He ached for the times where his Father would put him on his shoulders and run around the fields with him, laughing joyously. Alec longed for the memories of baking with his Mother, hoping to see her carefree smile once again. To see…

Then things went wrong.

He couldn't blame his parents completely. They went through a lot, and they struggled with it. But so did Alec himself, along with Jace and Izzy. It wasn't easy on any of them.

"MAGNUS FUCKING BANE, GET YOUR SLY BOOTY IN HERE RIGHT NOW!" Ragnor Fell bellowed as he sat himself down on the sofa in Magnus's apartment. As one of Magnus' closest friends, Ragnor owned a key to the place, but of course he'd needed to make his presence known because Magnus seemed to be too preoccupied by singing in his bathroom. Ragnor had winced at the off tune 'hit me baby' when he'd walked into the place. He figured it was most likely that Chairman Meow had been scared senseless, because the poor cat was nowhere to be seen.

"What's wrong, sweat pea?" Entering into the room, Magnus already had a vague idea of why Ragnor had turned up at that precise moment. However, it was fun to play the innocent. How Magnus did enjoy it when Ragnor became infuriated, and it was so easy to get his best friend wound up.

"You know what. I told you that in fucking confidence Magnus, you shit. You weren't meant to tell him, he wasn't supposed to find out. Ever" Ragnor replied with a weary sigh.

"Kindly refrain from such insult ridden profanities in my own home, you know how I hate such words," Magnus smirked as he watched his friend's face. Both of them had witnessed enough to understand that Magnus wasn't impartial to a good swearing session. Yet, Ragnor made no indication to speak so Magnus decided it was time to explain.

"My dear little cabbage, I had to take matters into my own hands! It was too painful watching you both stare at each other so longingly and not make any moves. In the end I couldn't bare it, and let something slip to Raphael." When Ragnor stayed silent, Magnus continued.

"I promise that I wouldn't have said a word if it wasn't so blatantly obvious that he's in love with you too, biscuit."

At that Ragnor looked up, startled. It was clear he'd not caught the signs of Raphael's mutual feelings, and that they would be so strong.

"You really think he- that he loves me?"

"Yes." The answer was simple for Magnus. He knew of Raphael's emotions towards Ragnor. Mostly because Raphael had drunkenly called him one night asking which flowers were Ragnor's favourite and 'if he ever had a chance in hell of going out with him, because that guy made his heart flutter like a squadron of butterflies or whatever the technical term was'. But Magnus liked to think he'd sussed out Raphael without that, so he ignored the amount of shock and happiness for his friend that he'd felt listening to the ramblings of a drunkard through the phone.

Ragnor smiled softly at Magnus's words, his eyes glazing over in a dewy haze. He looked Magnus in the eyes and stated coyly, "Good. He'd better do since I'm the best and only boyfriend he's ever going to get from now till forever."

"Oh Ragnor my buttercup, I'm so pleased for you both! Shall we have a drink to celebrate your newly happy coupling?"

"Yeah, I think we should." The voiced agreement from Ragnor wouldn't have made a difference, because Magnus had already produced two glasses of red wine from a cupboard. He knew it was a favourite of Ragnor's, as sometimes 'even people friends with Prattling Fools enjoyed the feeling of being classy once in a while'.

"I actually came here to thank you, Raphael told me what you'd said, but I had to catch your attention somehow and then you started apologising. I rarely get an apology from The-oh so mighty-HighWarlock, I couldn't find it within my heart to stop you!"

"Pft, how rude. I'm offended. You know I can't be called anything but The-oh so mighty, dashingly handsome and magnificent-HighWarlock" This ensued a bout of laughter from the two and Magnus wondered whether some people would actually take him seriously and ever contemplate saying that as a way of addressing him.

A number of hours and a few drinks later, Ragnor decided he really should get back to Raphael and make the most of their night. Before leaving, just as he reached the doorway, he turned to Magnus.

"You really should pop by my club one Friday evening soon, I have a funny feeling that you'd enjoy it even more than you usually do. I'm thinking you'll definitely appreciate some new features." With that Ragnor winked, and exited the apartment having thoroughly spiked Magnus's interest.

Thank you for taking the time to read my new story! I hope you like it. :)

-Rose