Chapter TWO
– The Switch –
Set during City of Ashes
.
Alec had been reasonably distant with Magnus since Jace was around his apartment and they hadn't had any time alone together. It had only been a day and he felt so far away from him. Alec had just gotten so used to them being together when they were alone that he didn't know how to be with him around others.
So when he traded places with Jace to stay with Magnus while he went to the Seelie court for the first time in a while Alec felt rather awkward with Magnus.
When everyone had left they were silent. Magnus was sitting on the sofa flipping through channels on the TV, not caring about what he was watching. Alec was leaning against the counter in the kitchen.
Eventually Alec realised he was going to need to make the first move. Something that usually fell on Magnus. "Did you put that clause in the contract because of me?" He finally asked.
"Well I didn't do it for Isabelle or Clary did I?" Magnus replied.
"I'm sorry," Alec said.
"Sorry for what?" Magnus asked, crossing his arms.
"You know what, Magnus." Alec said, also crossing him arms, struggling with what to say. "This isn't easy for me Magnus, you know that. I'm not ready for people to know."
"And what you think this is easy for me?" Magnus countered.
Alec sighed. He was right, of course, but it didn't magically change how Alec felt.
Tired of the argument for a moment, Alec went to the kitchen to make coffee. Alec loved the coffee machine Magnus had bought after they'd started seeing each other. It always gave him comfort in the apartment. He knew it didn't make sense. Magnus was a warlock, he could make coffee appear out of this air. But this had always given Alec something to do when he initially started coming to his apartment.
He made coffee for himself and Magnus without even thinking or meaning to. When he was done he walked to the ever-changing seating area and sat at the other side of the couch Magnus was sitting on.
"Coffee?" He offered. Magnus accepted it, their fingers brushing against each other. No matter how many times Alec and Magnus touched, in any way, it always felt like electricity cursing through his body. It always left him wanting more, wanting to be close to him, in whatever way possible.
They sat in silence for a while, simply looking at, not watching, the TV.
Finally Magnus broke it unable to bear it any longer, "We should watch more movies together. You've hardly seen anything."
Alec looked over at him. "If you want to."
"Have you ever seen the Lord of the Rings?"
Alec look confused. "Lord of the what?"
"Rings," Magnus laughed, wiggling his fingers, adorned with various rings.
"A film about jewellery?"
A smile spread across Magnus's face. "No, darling, not exactly," And he launched into an explanation. Alec brows creased and furrowed, unable to understand half of what Magnus was trying to say to him but he was smiling because he was glad they were talking.
At some point Alec's mind began to wander.
Magnus looked so enthusiastic while he was talking, a smile on his face, that little twinkle in his eye, the excited gestures of his hands and body. They'd moved closer together, unintentionally, during their conversation – like magnets constantly drawn together. Alec leaned over eventually and kissed Magnus, square on the mouth, soft and slow. It wasn't a sexual kiss in anyway. He just wanted to kiss him, nice and simple, to know that he still could.
Their lips pressing together, eyes closed, Magnus sighed.
"Alexander," He said.
"I'm sorry, Magnus," Alec whispered, with his sad blue eyes. And they both leaned and they were kissing. A lazy, romantic kind of kiss, just kissing to kiss. Their bodies were close together and eventually their kiss started to heat up. Maybe it was because Alec placed a hand on Magnus's thigh, maybe it was Magnus threading his finger in the hair at the base of Alec's neck that always riled him up, but suddenly they were kissing furiously. It was frustration and anger and sadness and lust and happiness in one.
Alec ended up pressed into the cushions, half of Magnus's body on his. Magnus slid one hand into Alec messy hair, messing it further, and the other up is back. Alec slid his hands round Magnus's sides, holding them there.
Their bodies rocked back and forth, needing friction, and their kisses became more urgent.
Magnus pulled away from Alec and leaned his forehead against his. Alec looked up at him through his thick dark lashes. "You know you can't keep using me for my body and magical services forever." He said jokingly, but there was a hint of truth in the air.
"I – no, Magnus, you don't think that, I –" Alec stuttered.
Magnus wanted to shake his head 'no' and deep down he knew it wasn't true but he couldn't help but feel it sometimes. He knew he was Alec's first experience and he knew Alec cared about him, but he also knew Alec cared about Jace and he didn't want him or anyone to know about them.
Before Magnus could reply Alec's phone beeped. Alec sighed. Magnus moved off of Alec and stood up. He grabbed Alec's phone from the table and handed him it.
Jace. The screen flashed.
"Of course, who else," Magnus said.
"Magnus." Alec whispered.
"Just answer it."
Alec stood up and started pacing as he spoke the Jace.
"What's wrong?" Magnus asked, when he got off the phone.
"It's Simon, he's got himself turned into a vampire. Jace said they need blood."
"I know a place," Magnus said. "Let's go."
