"The Kiss" by wnhsr on deviantART
I'm thinking between City of Bones and City of Ashes for this one, right after Magnus healed Alec from the Greater Demon attack and before he shows back up at the Institute with the new "mark." Haha.
I can't stop looking at "The Kiss", like I keep switching windows to stare at it and coo. But I have to smack my hand away and get to work. No more distractions!
Credit for the story and characters go to Cassandra Clare, of course, and to wnhsr for the art work that inspired me.
"So why are we meeting in the muck when we could be inside somewhere warm? Preferably my couch. Or my bed," the warlock was grumbling, softening towards the last line and sending Alec a playful grin. The shadowhunter was too distracted to notice, glancing off towards the water, watching its dark movement, then panning up to the bridge, the traffic constant even in the middle of the night.
"Alec?"
"Sorry. I don't know. I thought we could meet half way?" he tried, shrugging one shoulder.
"Quite literally."
"I know, it's probably not your idea of a good time," Alec considered, hanging his head. Magnus's hair was a riot of color tonight, and alive with sparkles. In spite of the casual tank, it looked like he was gearing up for a party or something. Something Alec had obviously interrupted, asking him to meet him here. He kicked at the moist dirt with his boot, wondering why he hadn't just shot the warlock a text to say 'thank you'.
"How would you know?" Magnus replied, one long finger curling beneath the boy's chin, forcing him to look up again. "I haven't had the chance to show you a good time yet."
Embarrassing heat flooded his face, and Alec tried to look away, at least, without turning his head. Magnus warm fingers were still resting beneath his chin, those strange eyes watching him carefully. Intently.
Alec swallowed.
"I know it's not a great place to ask anyone out, but I'm kind of…new to all this."
"Well, you could always ask me over."
Alec looked shocked and disbelieving.
"But if that's too much to handle," Magnus continued. "There's always a hundred coffee shops between here and Brooklyn, not to mention restaurants, movie theaters, night clubs. I'm game with any of these options."
"I didn't think about that."
"I figured, when this is what you came up with."
"Sorry," Alec muttered again, forehead wrinkled.
"It's OK. I wore appropriate footwear." Magnus gestured to his boots, flicking Alec a reassuring smile. It was weakly returned.
"Me too."
"When are you not wearing boots?" Magnus challenged.
"I don't wear them to bed."
Magnus laughed, reaching out to pluck a fold of Alec's shirt between his fingers, drawing the shadowhunter minutely closer. But carefully, slowly, giving him the chance to just tug back on the fabric if he wanted to and pull away.
Alec didn't do pull away.
"You look better," Magnus pointed out.
"I feel fine," Alec reassured. "No pain in my leg, and the scratches have cleared up."
"Let me see."
"…w-what? The claw marks?" Alec asked, red-faced again and taking an involuntary step away.
Once more, Magnus reached out for his shirt, meaning to coax him closer, but his sharp nails snagged on the fragile fabric, rending it down the front. Alec gasped, bending in on his torso as if to hide it, while Magnus retracted his hand for a second.
"Oops."
Alec clutched the folds of the torn shirt together, grimacing.
"Alec, I'm sorry for ruining your shirt. But it's not like I haven't seen all of you, sans clothing, this week."
Alec gaped, looking up at the warlock in mortification and something like accusation.
"How was I supposed to heal you properly? Through ten blankets?" Magnus asked, hands up defensively. "I don't have X-Ray vision. Seeing in the dark isn't quite the same thing."
Alec considered this while worrying on his lower lip. Magnus had a point. And he shouldn't be squeamish about something that had already happened. It's not like he had been conscious for the entire ordeal, and if Magnus hadn't come, if he hadn't worked on him tirelessly over the hours in the infirmary, then Alec would have surely died.
Showing the warlock his naked torso, then, was a small price to pay. A small return for saving his life.
Besides, Alec could always look at it as a recheck. That's what it was, right? Magnus only wanted to make sure he had completely healed.
"Fine," the shadowhunter finally relented, straightening up and releasing his grip on the shirt. The breeze naturally picked up the lightweight fabric, whipping it back at his sides. Alec shivered.
Pausing as if asking once more for permission, Magnus watched Alec's face while stepping closer. They were almost toe to toe, boot to boot. Slowly, Magnus's green-gold eyes traveled downward, inspecting the pale skin of Alec's chest and stomach. Where there had been the nasty evidence of the Greater Demon attack - being swiped out of the way by a serrated arm, now there was only the fading scars from old marks, the permanent Mark peeking out from his shoulder, and a few white lines from wounds Alec couldn't distinctly remember. Otherwise pale, unblemished skin followed the path of slender muscle down to the waistline of his jeans.
"Damn, I'm good," Magnus whispered in appreciation. Alec assumed he was talking about the healing magic he had performed, and so he smiled a little.
"I wanted to thank you. I didn't really get the chance before."
"I don't need thanks. This," elaborate gesture with his long, ring-covered fingers, referring to Alec's healthy person, "is all the gratification I need."
"But I want to do it," Alec insisted. "It was stupid and reckless, and over in a second. I almost lost everything because I wasn't focused like I should have been." He wanted to add that he deserved to suffer, to pay for a foolish mistake like that – but he didn't want to sound ungrateful. And he certainly didn't want to die, which he would have, without Magnus's intervention.
"Don't beat yourself up about it," Magnus replied dismissively. Of course, he didn't understand. He didn't fight demons; he fought bad hair days and hard clothing choices. And magical dilemmas weren't exactly the same thing as hand-to-hand combat. Alec figured he risked a lot more in the process. Not to mention, he wasn't immortal.
That's to say, he could understand why Magnus could make so light of the subject, while it really was very serious to Alec. He'd slipped up. Shadowhunters didn't have room to make mistakes. That's why so many died too young.
Still, Alec nodded distractedly. Magnus realized he'd mentally withdrawn, and snapped his glittering fingers together, regaining his attention.
"Hey. Weren't you thanking me properly? Is that all I get?"
"What else…did you want?" Alec asked cautiously.
"You know I charge a fortune for healing, especially from Greater Demon poison. It's messy and very hard work, and completely drained me for two days. You know, we both spent that time languishing in bed."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"
"It's OK. I didn't mind the excuse," Magnus waved that away. "I caught up on my soaps. But it's still going to cost you."
"Do you want to go get some coffee or something?"
"Ohh, expensive date. Then I expect the best."
"What would that be?"
"Starbucks. Six dollars for twenty hot, sweet ounces in a cute cup."
"Sure. If that's what you want."
Magnus looked like he was going to say something else, but then he smoothed it over with a smile and a nod, sliding his hands into his pockets.
So a five minute thank you and a six-dollar coffee drink was really all the warlock was asking in payment for saving his life? That did seem to be a very cheap price to pay. And yet, Magnus looked sincere. He looked completely fine with it.
But as he considered, Alec realized he wasn't fine with it. He was very glad to be alive. Nothing could express the relief he experienced when he opened his eyes to the greenish lighting in the infirmary and – even with all the aches that came with recovering, along with the sticky, unwashed feeling, realized he was going to live.
By all rights, he should be dead. He shouldn't have survived.
But Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn had made a house call and used all of his power in order to magic Alec back to health.
He deserved better than a few words of thanks and a cup of coffee. Where Alec was concerned, a five figured check from his parents still wouldn't have been adequate payment.
Because the High Warlock didn't have to give him the time of day. Magnus didn't have to bother with a young shadowhunter he barely knew. But he did. He had. And he had come again tonight, just because Alec asked him to in a text. He seemed happy to do it. Alec didn't understand it.
Magnus shifted, as if to turn away and start walking. Alec reached out to stop him, fingertips brushing the caremel skin of his arm. Magnus paused, brow raised in question.
"What is it?" he asked, eyes trying to make sense of Alec's expression. Alec moistened his lower lip, lifting his chin in order to peer back into the warlock's fascinating eyes.
"I wanted to thank you."
"But you already did," Magnus reminded, with a patient smile.
Well, this was for him too, then. It's something he wanted to do from the first night – when they met at the party, and Magnus kept looking at him. Kept giving him that probing, all-too-aware look. Like, he knew Alec had been staring, and not only that, he knew why the shadowhunter couldn't look away. The fact that he was so incredibly tall and thin and had cat-like eyes was part of it. His bright lipstick and all the glitter, that was pretty distracting too. But there was more to it. Alec couldn't stop staring because the Downworlder was also…undeniably attractive, and Alec found he enjoyed looking at him. He couldn't make conversation worth a damn, but he was captivated by everything the warlock did. Alec felt warm in his presence, and he had wondered, if only secretly, what it would be like to be alone with him.
What it would be like to kiss that blue-tinted mouth, to lean into that incredibly tall frame. To grip his sparkly, heavily-styled hair.
It's something Alec wanted an answer to. He'd almost left this world without knowing what it was like to kiss someone who wasn't family. And it seemed fitting to give it a try with the same person who had saved his life, brought him back so he could have that chance.
Magnus was waiting, watching him curiously, his hands still casually resting in his pockets. Alec lowered his eyes to the warlock's mouth, which was soft and pale tonight. No electric blue lip tint. The shadowhunter realized he preferred it this way.
Taking a deep breath for courage, the sound muted by the wind, Alec stepped in the rest of the way and lifted his arm, knotting his fingers around Magnus's bright, glittering hair. Magnus didn't hiss in objection, but rather lowered his head as if he knew what Alec was asking, and Alec lifted his chin, eagerness and excitement overpowering nerves.
He squeezed his eyes shut before their mouths made contact. But the heat that rushed in was incredible. Alec's lips tingled, then infused with heat. Warmth crept into his face, and along his throat, his hair tickling his eyes and his cheeks as it danced on the wind.
Alec failed to register that Magnus hadn't moved yet, that he hadn't properly responded to the sudden kiss. He was too busy shivering with pleasure and relief, unable to believe it was really happening.
Had anything in his short life ever felt so good?
Finally, the warlock moved, his lips shifting, softening, wrapping around Alec's and returning the kiss.
No. Nothing could compare to this moment. Alec could literally die happy now, clinging to Magnus's shimmering hair, leaning heavily into his chest, and shuddering in happy waves with the entire city around them, completely oblivious.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! And SPECIAL SUPER DUPER THANKS and mad love to Aeris1990 for replying to my last chapter. The artist herself. To use the words of pseudo-Alec, I could die happy now! I'm so glad you approve! I love, love, love your work and would love to write about a number of your other pieces, if you don't mind.