Clary was reading beside Magnus's bed when he woke up. She'd been reading for most of the night, listening to Jace and Alec cursing through their failed tracking attempts, but now she wasn't really focused on the words, she was thinking about how much she liked the warlock. She liked his slightly disturbing obsession with glitter. She liked that he called her Biscuit. And she loved that he loved Alec.

Alec had been so different when she first met him. He never called her by name - she was always Fray, I mean, he still called her that now, but it was out of habit. Clary remembered how much she had disliked him - and smiled when she thought of how much she liked him now. She was still deep in thought, staring at a page, when Magnus groaned.

Clary dropped the book and moved to lean over him.

"Magnus? It's Clary."

Magnus' cat-eyes were showing like they had been when Alec had found him, but the crescent pupils were blown, which panicked Clary more than it should. Weren't dilated pupils a sign of head trauma? She pushed the thought away and looked down at him. For a moment, she wasn't sure he even recognised her, but then-

"Hey, Biscuit."

Clary felt relief flooding her. "Hey. You gave Alec a scare."

She knew it was the wrong thing to say when Magnus looked startled. He strained to sit up and managed maybe a foot before Clary stopped him. Magnus didn't argue - he was already breathing heavily when his head hit the pillow.

"Alec found me," Magnus said hoarsely. "Oh god, is he okay? I thought he was gonna find me passed out.. I tried so hard to-"

"Stay awake?"

Magnus nodded. "Where is he?"

"Just outside. Hang on."

Clary stuck her head around the door, and Magnus heard her call something, followed by quick footfalls, and a split second later Alec was on the bed beside him, with their hands clasped. Clary shut the door discreetly, leaving them alone in the warmly lit room.

"Hey," Alec breathed.

Magnus nuzzled against Alec's arm in response. "I'm so sorry, Alexander."

"What?" Alec turned to look at him. "What for?"

"Biscuit said I scared you when you found me."

Alec chuckled, and motioned for his boyfriend to settle back against him. "I was terrified, Mags. But it was not your fault. By the Angel, you had a knife sticking out of your stomach."
"I tried to stay awake. I didn't want you to find me unconscious."

"You very nearly were. I'm sorry about the knife, how we had to take it out."

Magnus flinched and his hands went to his still wounded stomach but he nodded. "From what I remember, I would be dead by now if you hadn't."

Alec shushed him and then kissed the top of his head, working his hands through the spikes in his hair. "How's the wound feel?"

Magnus tensed underneath him. "Okay." Underneath the baggy black shirt Alec had dressed him in, he was running his hands over the bandages, which were damp with blood.

Alec sat up to look him in the eye, clearly skeptical. "Can I see?"

When Magnus didn't reply, Alec pulled the hem up gently and ripped the bandage away. His boyfriend flinched and leaned into him, and Alec took in the severity of the injury. The wound was tinged black from the poison, the red blood mingling with it, and it made Magnus' caramel skin look paper pale. Alec rebandaged it tightly and pulled the covers over them both, kicking off his shoes.

"Mags, that poison is gonna spread," Alec breathed into his hair.

"I know." Magnus didn't sound remotely worried, more sleepy. "Alexander, can you tell me one of our stories?"

Alec grinned lovingly. Their 'stories' were dates, funny moments or little things they remembered about each other, and exchanging them was one of his favourite things to do.

"The good luck charm," he said. "The one I bought you after Tokyo. I was just a silly gift, but you still carry it with you everywhere you go. I found it in your jacket pocket earlier. I remember Tokyo so well, I loved it so much. D'you remember the terrace?"

Magnus nodded, but when Alec couldn't see, he frowned, because, actually he didn't remember that at all.

Woo, two updates in one day! (Don't get used to it :) ) Hey guys, this is my first story, so far the response has been more than I ever hoped for, so thank you! Special thank you to daughterofpercabeth417 for reviewing, I really appreciate it. I know where the story is going but like most I am very busy so it may be a short while before I post again. Let's hope Malec makes it through!

N.A x