Alec leaned against a wall in the corner of the grand ballroom, a scowl on his face. He hated all of this. He hated that he was in a snug fitting suit surrounded by obnoxious people none of whom he cared to get to know. People who could possibly be plotting the death of the man it was Alec's job to protect. The man who seemed to have so little concern for his own life that the second the group entered the party he darted away from them.

It was if he couldn't possibly get away from the people who were trying to save his life fast enough. And on top of that Alec was supposed to be his "date". Some date this Magnus Bane was. The sooner all of this was over the better, as far was Alec was concerned.

"Brother dear, standing and scowling in the corner is not at all what we came here to do," Isabelle said as she approached her brother, drink in hand.

Alec continued to scowl, but straightened himself so he was no longer against the wall.

"Are you drinking on the job Isabelle?" Alec asked, disregarding her statement altogether and eyeing the beverage in her hand with distaste.

Isabelle rolled her eyes and tossed her hair.

"Yes, I am. It's part of blending in and besides that I have a very high tolerance." She said, bringing the drink to her lips and smiling at Alec's angry expression.

"It's just one drink and I've been sipping it the entire time. I'll bet I've kept a better watch on Magnus than you have," Isabelle continued to tease when Alec said nothing.

Alec snorted, "Doubt that. I've been searching for him for the past half hour."

"Perhaps you haven't been searching hard enough darling" said a voice from behind him, causing Alec to jump and Isabelle to laugh.

Alec's scowl, if possible, deepened as he turned to look at Magnus.

"How long have you been behind me?"

"Not long, Isabelle and I thought it would be fun to tease you. It'd be nice to see you smile."

"Good luck with that," Isabelle whispered under her breath.

Alec turned his glare to her and was met with a sweet smile before she dashed off to the dance floor, presumably to find Simon.

When Alec turned back to Magnus, a tan hand was extended out to him and Alec looked at Magnus with confusion.

"What?" Magnus asked innocently.

"What are you doing?" Alec asked, honestly unsure of what was going on.

"Isn't it obvious? I want a dance with my date."

Alec sputtered; his face warming and he knew he was probably blushing.

"No," he said finally.

Magnus blinked, dropping his hand.

"And why not? You're my date here and that's what dates do at a dance."

"No, I'm here to protect you. I'm pretending to be your date and I can that just as easily from here as I can from dancing with you."

"You didn't even know where I was the past half hour." Magnus challenged, folding his arm across his thin chest. The way the fabric of Magnus' suit squeezed his muscles did wonderful things for biceps and Alec did his best not to stare.

"I do now and besides, you walked away from me." Alec defended, feeling annoyed.

"No I didn't. I had expected you to follow when I realized you hadn't I went off and did my own thing. It wasn't until I saw you pouting in the corner that I came over here."

"I wasn't pouting," Alec argued and Magnus smiled.

"Sure you weren't."

Alec narrowed his eyes. "Stop being a condescending asshole. I'm trying to save your life."

"No, you're pouting and you're here to be my date. So dance with me."

"I don't dance."

"Alexander the bodyguard doesn't, Alexander my date does." Magnus said extending his hand to Alec again.

"Don't call me Alexander," Alec huffed, but then to Magnus' surprise, took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled to the dance floor.

"And you said you don't dance," Magnus teased as the two began their second dance together.

Alec was a surprisingly graceful dancer.

"I said I don't dance, I didn't say I don't dance well," Alec replied looking to his feet.

Magnus tossed his head back and chuckled and Alec looked up, unsure of what the man found so amusing.

"What's so funny?" Alec asked, thinking he was being mocked.

"You are darling," Magnus replied, looking down as his inch shorter dance partner.

Alec scowled and looked down at the floor again, now positive he was being made fun of.

"I meant it as a compliment," Magnus said softly, realizing Alec was upset.

Alec still said nothing but looked back up at the man.

"You were making fun of me," he said finally.

Magnus shook his head. "How was I making fun of you?"

"You were laughing at me," Alec replied, not having any of Magnus' games.

"I was laughing at what you did, not you specifically. You're funny in a . . . not trying to be way."

Alec cocked an eyebrow, a silent question being asked and Magnus smiled.

"I simply think you're adorable and thus you make me laugh. It's not at all complicated," Magnus explained.

Alec once again looked away, glancing at the people around them. He had done this quite a lot during their dancing, much to Magnus' annoyance.

"You should relax darling," said Magnus as Alec continued to scan the crowd. "Nothing is going to happen in such a public place especially with so many important people around. It would lead to far too much media coverage."

Alec rolled his eyes and turned back to Magnus. As if he was the expert on these things.

"You'd be surprised." Alec stiffly replied.

Magnus raised his eyebrows. "A lot of your hits have been in public?"

Alec didn't answer, and though he was looking at Magnus he was seeing something else- someone else. Magnus knew that distant look; he himself had it many times, and for once, stopped talking.

"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable," Magnus said suddenly, feeling a bit guilty about the sad look in Alec's eyes. They were such a pretty blue, but the sadness darkened them.

Alec blinked, surprised at the apology.

"It's fine, and you don't." Alec said and for some reason he smiled. Maybe it was because the apology sounded like the first genuine thing Magnus had said since they'd met.

"Don't what?"

"Make me uncomfortable."

"You sure act like I do."

Alec looked at Magnus with an earnest expression.

"That's how I always am. With siblings like mine and our line of work, it's hard not to be a little guarded."

Magnus nodded, truly understanding.

The song finally ended and Alec felt a swell of relief, ready to be done dancing. He didn't like constantly having his back to so many people. Magnus pulled him back as another song began and Alec looked at him with wide eyes.

"Another dance?"

Magnus snickered, pulling him closer.

"Well it is a party."

"Is this all you people do?"

"You people?"Magnus asked, jokingly offended.

Alec immediately felt guilty.

"I meant. . . I didn't mean like- I'm sorry." Alec stammered, his face turning red. His blunt nature could really be a problem at times.

"It's alright darling; I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Alec cleared his throat, face still warm.

They were silent for the rest of the dance and when the song ended, Magnus made his way to break them apart knowing Alec wouldn't be in the mood for another dance. To his surprise, Alec pulled him back, the guilt still plain on his innocent face. Magnus wondered how he could think of a professional killer as innocent but this boy managed it.

"One more dance?" Alec asked, his way of a further apology.

Magnus smiled, and not once to turn down a dance with a beautiful boy, nodded his acceptance. Alec beamed as Magnus pulled him closer.

"If you insist Alexander," Magnus said.

"Don't push it," Alec replied, trying not to smile. The proximity to the man did funny things to his emotions.

"See what happens when you relax? Isn't this so much better than constantly looking around for a nonexistent person?" Magnus asked his arms around Alec's neck.

Alec was about to retort when the sound of glass breaking and a girl shrieking interrupted him. It took Alec less than a second to recognize that voice as his sister's and at the sound of gunfire, Alec wasted no time in tackling Magnus to the ground covering his body with his own as the room erupted into chaos.