A/N: Sorry for the delay. Enjoy~

Chapter summary: In which a war breaks out and Magnus looses quite thoroughly.

4: The War Proper

A week after the incident that shall never be mentioned on pain of death, Alec was struggling to come up with another way to make Magnus titter. The clever warlock had begun to watch his every step whenever he entered the Institute or interacted with Alec and his siblings. Alec was running out of ideas. It was a desperate situation.

Thankfully, Clary was a sneaky little rat when she put her mind to it. Alec knew this, but that didn't mean he was going to go with her idea. When she skipped up to him, a sugary sweet smile on her face earlier that morning, Alec had been suspicious. When she presented him with a huge, fluffy feather he was confused and suspicious. Then she just winked and said, "Trust me."

That was how Alec ended up sitting in the corner table in the workout room staring blankly at a big, fluffy, hot pink feather in his hands. Trust Clary? With what? What was he supposed to do with a feather? Context? Please? Someone?

He sighed and dropped his head so it thunked gently against the metal table's surface. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to hear that cute little laugh again. It was so adorable. And Magnus's face whenever he was caught making that precious little sound was a rare and treasured sight.

Alec could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen his favorite warlock blush so brightly. Magnus's usual smooth exterior deteriorated into the stuttering and stumbling of a school boy leaving Alec awestruck. He just knew a goofy grin was on his face whenever Magnus fell into that adorable state of befuddlement.

He just wanted to hear that little sound.

"You know," a very welcome voice said close to Alec's ear, "if you wanted to take a nap, I'm sure there are many more comfortable places."

Alec lifted his head and saw Magnus watching him with sparkling eyes and a cheeky grin. He felt an answering smile stretch across his face and he sat up. He hadn't intended to take a nap. But he must have seeing as most of the other Shadowhunters had left the room.

He scratched his head in embarrassment and realized he was still holding the huge feather. Color seeped into his cheeks and he set the feather down. Magnus lifted an eyebrow and plucked the feather from the table to run his fingers through the soft barbs.

"I had no idea you liked feathers," Magnus said glancing at his lover.

The flush in his cheeks deepened. "Clary gave it to me," he said shrugging. "She just said," he made exaggerated air quotes, "trust me and left." He shook his head. "I don't get it."

Magnus chuckled. "Clary has a unique sense of humor," he admitted. "Even I don't always understand it." He handed Alec back the feather and sat comfortably on the corner of the table. "But that's not why I'm here," he said briskly. "I came to see how you were doing. I heard about the mission last night."

Alec heaved a sigh and leaned back in his chair, running his hands down his face. "Eidolon demons," he said. "They kept changing into us. It was a mess."

"So I heard," Magnus said wryly. "Are you alright?" he asked, sincere concern in his voice.

"I'll be fine."

Alec waved away Magnus's concern in favor of picking up the feather again. On a whim, he brushed the feather gingerly against the warlock's face. Magnus crinkled his nose and moved his face to avoid the ticklish brushes.

That's when Alec suddenly understood. His eyes dropped to the open expanse of bare, sunkissed skin between the two flaps of the warlock's burgundy and gold shirt. Necklaces adorned Magnus's neck, dripping down his chest to settle on the curves of his muscles.

All within reach of Alec's feather. A sly smirk worked its way onto his face. Thankfully, Magnus didn't notice it because he was too busy dodging the feather's attention. All the better for Alec. He flicked the feather down so it lightly teased Magnus's chest.

The warlock merely waved it away. But Alec returned it, brushing it all the way down the bare chest and back up to Magnus's neck. Color tinted the warlock's cheeks when glamoured brown eyes met Alec's curiously. Whatever Magnus saw in Alec's expression must have given him away because Magnus hopped off the table and began walking away.

As if Alec was going to let him escape. Activating his speed rune, Alec followed Magnus, caught the warlock's arms, held them behind Magnus's back with one hand, and flicked the feather teasingly against his lover's neck. Magnus tensed and struggled.

"Alec," Magnus gasped, fighting down laughter. "This is... Were're not exactly... St-stop."

Alec listened closely for the sound and was disappointed by Magnus muffling his laughter. He glared without heat and flicked the feather more fervently across Magnus's exposed skin.

"Figured it out, I see," Clary said, rounding a corner and standing so her weight was propped on one side. "Hey Izzy," she called. "Alec needs some help."

"Wha?" Magnus gasped.

Alec snickered and tightened his grip on Magnus's arms when the warlock began struggling in earnest. Then suddenly he had backup in the form of Clary Fray and his little sister. Magnus balked at the sudden addition of two more captures, promptly falling back onto Alec who staggered under the weight of three people.

"Tickle fight!"

Alec grunted when Jace leaped onto the human clump, the added weight knocking them all to the mats on the training floor. He coughed underneath Magnus who had somehow managed to free one hand and was batting Clary playfully. Clary batted right back, diving directly for Magnus's sides.

Alec watched in amusement as he slithered out from beneath his lover. He noted with interest the fascinating way Magnus contorted on himself protecting the side Clary was attaching. Isabelle noticed the same thing and made for Magnus's other unprotected side.

Magnus cried out and flailed inelegantly, laughing spilling from his lips like a waterfall. It was wonderful and contagious and Alec loved it. Alec looked up to his parabatai who sat where he fell beside Isabelle and smirked. Jace matched his expression, accepting the challenge embedded in the look. Together, Alec and Jace struck, adding their tickle expertise drawn from years of ruff-housing as children. Magnus never stood a chance.

At some point no one could remember, Magnus lost his shoes, one sock, his hair was a mess, his shirt was wrinkled, and his skin was shiny from sweat. The warlock's sculpted chest heaved, desperately gulping in air. Alec lay sprawled next to him gasping too, but nowhere near as hard as Magnus. Alec was smiling so big his cheeks hurt but he regretted nothing.

Clary and Isabelle had collapsed on each other still laughing. They had devolved into tickling each other and were now a giggling mess. Jace wasn't much better. His head rested on Clary's arm and his foot was under Alec's back, breathy laughs escaping his lips.

Alec forced himself to take a deep breath to calm down. That hadn't been what he'd originally had in mind, but it was certainly worth it. He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up. The stamina rune still giving him enough energy to crawl over to his weak lover.

Magnus was absolutely worthless. The warlock could barely move he was so tired. His clothes were all in disarray and his entire body still twitched with laughter. Magnus coughed and opened his now unglamoured eyes. The cat eyed gaze settled on Alec's hazel and softened.

"You..." He gasped. "...will be the death of me...Alexander."

Alec smiled tenderly. "I doubt that," he said.

He leaned down and rested his head on Magnus side. Magnus twitched to protect his side but was too tired to move much. Alec snickered when he heard his lover mutter something about "those stamina runes" and settled down. He curled close to Magnus, tucking his legs up and relaxed.

He was aware of the frankly strange group they ymade. Four Shadowhunters and the High Warlock of Brooklyn collapsed from exhaustion on the floor mats of the training room. Magnus giggled and Alec snuggled closer. He blew a small puff of ear onto Magnus's ear...and stiffened.

The laugh Magnus made was short, cute, and muffled but it was definitely a titter. Sure enough, a deep blush followed lighting up Magnus's face like that reindeer from the Mundie Christmas song. The best part? Everyone heard it.

"You tittered," Alec said, snorting when he snagged a gulp of air to laugh. His entire body aching as he laughed.

Isabelle's arm shot up in the air accompanied by her declaration, "That's four."

"Three," Magnus countered, aiming the best glare he could muster at Alec's sister. It wasn't effective at all given how he was smiling and his body was shaking from exertion and laughter.

"Nope," Clary said. "Four." She tilted her head back so she looked at Magnus upside down. "I'm counting the first time."

"Us four," Jace said. "Magnus zero."

Alec coughed as another roll of laughter shook him. He liked Magnus like this. Helpless, happy, and limp as a noodle. Maybe he could use this next time.

Team Titter: 4
Magnus: 0