Something Wicked

A Mortal Instruments Fanfiction

by Dr. Blind

o-O-o

The Roommate

"How do you know if you have bedbugs?" Alec says by way of greeting.

Thousands of miles away, in Idris, Ontario, Jace says, "You don't have bedbugs."

"But - "

"Alec," is all he says. Alec bites his lip and lets out a breath.

"I don't have bedbugs."

He hears Jace chuckle and open a drawer. He's probably in the kitchen - Alec's family's kitchen. In their nice, big house with their shiny floors and big, comfy leather couch... "What have I said about calling me?"

"Once an hour, minimum."

"And how many times have you called?"

Alec swallows guiltily and stares out the window, peering down at the sidewalk below him. New York City is so crowded. He thought he would enjoy it, but now... "Only twice."

"Yeah, but what time is it?"

He glances at the red letters of his alarm clock. "3:12."

"That's twice in twelve minutes. Alec?"

"Uh huh?"

"Stop calling."

And then the phone clicks on the other end and the dial tone starts beeping in his ear. Alec is angry for a moment, but then he considers how many times he's called Jace in the past two days. He's dreamed of this for months, living on his own in the Big Apple, but now that it's actually happening he can't help but see how naive he's been. He thought it would be all books and parties, but just like back home he doesn't have a single friend outside his family.

Alec sits on his bed. The room in his shared apartment is smaller than he's used to, but he's always been good at making places feel like home to himself. Already his stuff is unpacked the way he wants it, all of his books arranged on his tottering little shelf. His Dad and adopted brother, Jace, had helped him move in only two days earlier, before driving back to Ontario. Jace had been endlessly amused by the amount of gay men living in Alec's neighbourhood, and spent his time in New York acting like everyone's favourite animal at the zoo.

Alec's dad had been a little less entertained, but he had to admit that Alec's apartment is nice for the rent. Even though some of the decor in the living room is a little too sparkly for Alec's taste, he likes the place overall. It's the fact that he's completely alone that's putting him off. He hasn't even met his roommate, though there are a few telltale signs that he is, in fact, around. Like the cereal bowls stacking up in the sink. Alec continues to sit on his bed and stare out the small window looking over his slice of the village. After a little while, he remembers the bedbugs, and how he was terrified of them. Alec can't handle his room anymore. He decides to take a shower. Grabs one of the towels his mom bought him and throws off his shirt. For some reason he thinks he's home alone.

He isn't.

There's someone sitting in one of the wicker chairs in the living room, looking very hungover, a book in one hand. Alec freezes when he sees him and flushes hot. The guy lounging in the chair isn't what he expected. He thought his roommate would be... shorter. And less... Uh...

"Wow," says his roommate. "Is this a dream, or my birthday?"

Alec looks down and sees that he's half naked, his too big jeans sliding down on his hips. He makes a sharp squeaking noise and covers himself up with his towel. "Sorry!"

His roommate snorts, closing his book. He uncrosses his legs. His jeans are really, really tight. "I'm Magnus. You're Alec, then?"

"Yeah, I'm Alec." He swallows, nervous again. "I didn't know you were home, or I would have... worn a shirt."

"What a shame that would have been," Magnus says with a smile that tells Alec he's just teasing. He outstretches his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Alec crosses the tiny living room and takes it. His handshake his firm, his palm warm. There are so many rings on his hands that it's a bit like his fingers are made of metal. Alec licks his bottom lip. "Nice to meet you, too." It's those eyes that have him. They're green, speckled with blue. Alec has never met anyone as appealing to the eyes in his life. "You're pretty quiet, eh?"

"I didn't know Canadian's actually said that."

"Said what?"

"Eh." He makes air quotes with his fingers and Alec tries to pinpoint when it was he said, "Eh." He can't, so he shrugs. "It doesn't matter. I think it's... quaint."

Alec doesn't know why, but that feels like an insult. He doesn't say anything, though. He just smiles and tries not to be awkward. They have to live together - he has to like Magnus, and Magnus has to like him. "Have you been here since I moved in?" Alec goes on. "I saw plates and stuff moving around, but I never even heard you."

"Yeah, it's been a mad weekend. You know, end of the summer and all that." Magnus rubs his eyes, as if to stipulate the madness of the weekend. "I only really came home to change my clothes. I'm usually here, though." Magnus waves to the room around them with a slight frown. "I don't get out much when school's in."

Alec knows that there's a conversation there. He knows there's a charming, gentle way to insinuate that he spends a lot of time at home. The words fail him, though, and he says, "I don't get out much when school's not in." And then he stops, because he honestly cannot fathom how fucking stupid he just sounded. "What I mean is... Like, well... Uh..." He doesn't get why words are failing him. Alec doesn't talk a lot, but when he does talk he says what he means. Is it because he wants to impress Magnus? Most likely. "Yeah..." he finishes as smoothly as possible.

Magnus watches him like he's having a fit and then breaks out into one of those contagious, warm laughs that makes Alec feel worse and better at the same time. "Are you okay?" Magnus asks.

Alec sits down on the couch, defeated. He realizes he's been holding the towel around his torso like a woman and drops it. Magnus drops his eyes down over his torso, but Alec wills himself not to care. "Sort of not okay, actually," he admits. He doesn't know why, but he feels like he can trust Magnus not to trivialize his problems, or hold them against him. "It's just... This is all a lot to take in. The tallest building in my old town was seven stories, and it was the hospital, you know?" Magnus's dark, clever eyebrows tilt downwards in the center, concerned. "I used to dream of leaving that... that homophobic little ditch, and now that I have... I'm sort of homesick."

He feels instant regret for saying anything to begin with. What a baby he must sound like!

Magnus is quiet for a moment, but before Alec can get up and leave he says, "I think I can fix that."

"Fix what?"

"Your homesickness. I'll show you exactly why you came to New York City."

Alec can't control it. His mind automatically thinks of sex. It's hard not to think about it with Magnus around. He is very attractive. "How?"

A wicked grin splits Magnus' lips. "You're coming out with me tonight."