Further
Alec walks through New York City, still supposedly on patrol but for once he is only partially focused on the task of checking the streets for demon activity. His mind is somewhere else entirely.
Because Alec just kissed Magnus.
Every time he so much as thinks about it - remembers having Magnus so close, his hand cradling the side of Alec neck, heat spreading from every point of contact, the feeling of their lips moving against each other, the warmth between them - he feels a renewed flush crawl up his neck. Not to even mention the rather uncharacteristic smile he is currently wearing.
Because Alec is happy. For the first time in years, Alec is actually happy. So happy in fact, that he can't help but smile slightly even while on patrol.
And okay, they have yet to actually talk about whatever this thing between them is and the kiss didn't clarify that in any manner, but it's still something, it's still a definite step closer to being together. And so far, everything with Magnus seems to have simply evolved naturally, things just happening and moving along, without either of them pushing for something to happen or trying to define it.
So, maybe they don't actually need to talk about it. Because why mess with that?
And admittedly, after that kiss earlier, Alec is suddenly not quite as keen on 'just talking' the next time he sees Magnus.
Because, damn, that kiss. Alec doesn't really know what he was expecting kissing Magnus to feel like, but he definitely hadn't been expecting for his lips to still feel slightly warm even now, to still tingle with the memory almost an hour later.
Yeah, the next time he sees Magnus, Alec definitely intends to spend at least some of their time very much not-talking.
xxx
By the time he makes it back to the Institute, Jace and Izzy still aren't back from their mission with the seelies yet - whatever that mission actually entails - and Clary is apparently still sleeping off the effects of having her memories returned.
So, it's actually rather easy for Alec to slip past everyone without being seen, glad that he gets to take a shower and can change his clothes before he has to face reality in the form of his parents' return and his siblings' usual tendency towards producing trouble.
Heck, Alec just got more than twelve uninterrupted hours with Magnus. If their history taught him anything, then it's the fact that Alec is due another one of his siblings' calls for help with the next imminent catastrophe they somehow got themselves involved in any second now.
It comes just as he expected.
As soon as he finally sets foot into the Ops center, his mother immediately calls him into the Head of the Institute's office for a talk. A talk which really just amounts to her expressing her disappointment at all of his recent failures.
Alec just takes it, never having been one to make up excuses. He has always been a firm believer in doing what you think is best and then dealing with the consequences afterwards.
So, as much as he actually agrees with his mother's assessment of recent events - and as much as Alec also disapproved of his siblings' recent penchant for running into situations without any real plan, without waiting for approval from the Clave and definitely without any thought to the potential fallout - in the end Alec always went along with it. Because no matter how irritated he is with Izzy and Jace, there is still absolutely no chance of him ever letting his siblings run off into a dangerous situation without Alec there as backup in case things go south.
Sure, his siblings tend to forget that they could in fact make life a little easier for Alec, but that doesn't mean that there will ever be a situation where Alec doesn't have their backs.
Accordingly, he just listens to his mother berate him and takes the punishments she deems fit to dole out. Finally, she gets to yesterday's events in her list of his recent failures.
"And you invited a warlock into the Institute, Alec?" She sounds absolutely reproachful.
And it's almost a little humorous to him, because thing is, she isn't even aware of the worst of it. If she knew just why Alec had been so very willing to invite 'a warlock' to the Institute - namely the fact that it was very much about that specific warlock who Alec then also proceeded to go on another date with as soon as the ritual was done - their current discussion would certainly be devolving into something else entirely.
So, he makes sure to keep his voice neutral, as he replies, "The High Warlock of this city to be exact. Retrieving Clary Fray's memories is the most reliable way we currently have for finding the Mortal Cup. I called in the most powerful warlock in the Institute's jurisdiction to perform the required ritual to guarantee its success."
At that his mother finally loses her reproachful air, actually looking interested now. "And the warlock succeeded?"
Alec nods, trying not to feel too bothered by Magnus being referred to by his species instead of his name or even his title. "The ritual was successful in returning the memories to Clary Fray and now it is only a matter of waiting for her to wake and hopefully she will at least recall something about the Mortal Cup's whereabouts. Of course, I am aware that there is no guarantee that her mother actually told her anything, but it seemed prudent to try this route first before starting to randomly comb through the entire city for clues. And as it wasn't an actual mission and just a simple commission for a warlock ritual I saw no need to get approval from the Clave beforehand."
His mother is now actually nodding in approval. "The ritual was a good call, Alec. Although, you still should have let your father and me know before going ahead with it."
Alec feels himself relax slightly, relieved that the berating for his failures is finally over and done with. Still, he makes sure to keep his face absolutely neutral.
He knows that the only reason his mother would have wanted to know about the ritual ahead of time is so she could claim some of the credit in case Clary's memories truly end up leading them to the Cup. Nothing concerns his mother more than her reputation.
But at least they have finally made it past the part of their conversation concerning all the recent unsanctioned missions, so now they proceed to discuss everything else that has taken place at the Institute in his parents' absence.
It's still rather harrowing and it takes them almost two hours to get through everything. He is honestly quite happy once he finally makes it out of there.
Although, his relief doesn't last long, as the second half of his earlier assumption of being due another mess to clean up for his siblings promptly proves itself to be true when Jace calls Alec in a panic barely twenty minutes later.
Because Clary is missing.
Apparently, while Alec was stuck in the meeting with his mother, the girl not only woke up but then also seemingly simply took off without any sort of explanation to anyone. Only to then most likely get herself kidnapped, because when Jace tracked her on a whim the only thing Alec's siblings found at Clary's old home is her bag.
But it's his parabatai calling him for help, so of course Alec immediately takes off to meet him and Izzy.
Only to then be told that it is apparently his fault that Clary is missing.
"This wouldn't have happened if you had been watching her!" Jace exclaims, something between anger and fear in his eyes, clearly worried about the girl.
But Alec just feels his eyes narrow slightly in irritation at being once more made to carry the weight of other people's moronic decisions. He might not mind doing exactly that for his siblings whenever they get themselves into their various messes, but he does not extend that same courtesy to near strangers.
And then there is also the fact, that Alec actually had a pretty excellent morning - a wonderful breakfast with Magnus and an even better goodbye - and even his conversation with his mother actually went rather well, all things considered.
For once, there is nothing hanging over his head - except for the inevitable conflict with his parents regarding his sexuality - and he actually has numerous things - like seeing Magnus again as soon as he can possibly manage - ahead of him to look forward to.
Alec doesn't think he's ever had that before.
But instead of getting to enjoy feeling actually happy for once in his life, he gets to listen to his parabatai reprimand him. For not babysitting a teenager who was supposedly sleeping while Alec had also been stuck in a discussion with their mother.
Jace's complete focus on Clary over the past few weeks - his utter indifference towards anything not directly Clary-related, his disregard of everything that does not entirely go along with Clary's objectives - is really starting to get on Alec's nerves. Not to even mention how his parabatai just keeps brushing him off as though Alec's opinions simply don't matter, at least not if they oppose Clary's.
And maybe it's the contrast between how happy Alec felt this morning - just a few hours ago when he left Magnus' loft - compared to how frustrated and disappointed he feels right now. Or maybe it's the fact that his parabatai apparently couldn't care less how Alec might be doing, how Jace seems to be exclusively and unapologetically concerned with only himself and his own interests.
Alec doesn't know what exactly it is, but something about this situation is just simply too much. Maybe it's about time he lets Jace know just how much he is currently stretching Alec's patience.
He lets his eyes narrow at his parabatai's last comment.
"Run that by me again, Jace." He tries to keep his irritation out of his voice, but he knows he doesn't fully succeed. "The girl wakes up and promptly runs off on her own without letting anyone, not even you, if I may remind you, know about it. But it is somehow explicitly my fault simply because I did not decide to... to do what exactly? Sit at her bedside until she woke up in case she'd be stupid enough to just take off on her own without telling anyone? And we both know that even if I'd been aware of her waking up, talking to her wouldn't have done any good whatsoever. Neither one of you has had the greatest track record of listening to me over the past few days, Jace."
But his parabatai has that stubborn look on his face that tells Alec it's completely useless to actually try to argue with him. Jace already chose his version of the events and nothing and no one will change his mind.
Alec lets out an explosive breath. He is just so done with Jace's almost purposeful blindness to everything but a near stranger, a girl they've known for less than a month but who keeps putting all of them in danger for her own personal crusade. And for some reason, Alec is supposed to just cheer her on.
He takes another step closer, now looking down at his brother. From the corner of his eye, he can see Izzy step closer as well, maybe afraid that Alec might actually go for a punch or something.
But he just keeps his eyes fixed on Jace's. "I don't know what is going on with you lately, Jace, but I really hope you get a grip of yourself soon. Because you are really starting to piss me off."
Jace scowls, opening his mouth, clearly about to say something. But Alec just makes a slicing gesture with his hand, to stop him from actually saying a word. Just based on his parabatai's expression, it's more than clear that nothing Alec just said actually made a difference to Jace.
"Let's just try and track the girl," Alec sighs. "Maybe once she is back you'll actually be able to think straight again."
Thankfully, that is the exact point Clary's phone starts to ring from her bag which Izzy is still holding. It's Clary's mundane friend who was apparently kidnapped alongside her - because for some unfathomable reason the girl had decided to call her mundane friend to help her instead of taking a Shadowhunter with her instead - but now they at least know where to look for the two of them.
Once they have a location, Alec waits barely a second before he is already turning to lead the way towards the docks.
And he might actually have to revise his opinion of that Simon kid. Because while clearly just as likely to get himself into trouble as everyone else around Alec, in contrast to the rest of their little troop the mundane seems to be at least some sort of help in resolving the trouble he gets himself into.
What a novel concept.
xxx
Saving Clary and her chatty mundane friend doesn't even turn out to be that difficult at first, despite them having been kidnapped by werewolves of all things.
Having to deal with werewolves is definitely better than if it had actually been Valentine who took them, but still, Alec could have done entirely without having to deal with yet another Clary-related catastrophe.
Which of course only gets worse once they get outside.
Because turns out they managed to once more get involved in a Downworlder conflict, or more specifically, a struggle for the position of alpha in the local pack.
Alec sighs to himself in irritation, even as he helps Jace drag a barely conscious werewolf to the car while Clary flutters around them rather uselessly and Izzy takes off back towards the Institute to cover for their absence.
So much for not giving the Clave or their parents even more reasons to reprimand them.
Damn it all.
xxx
The next time Magnus sees Alexander it is once more because of a need for his services as a warlock.
Alexander and Jace are dragging a badly injured werewolf - the newly crowned alpha of the most powerful NYC pack to be specific - into his loft, closely followed by Clarissa and a mundane Magnus hasn't seen before.
What is with all the teenagers that have so recently taken to gathering in my loft?
But it's not like Magnus is going to complain about seeing his Shadowhunter again so soon, no matter what the circumstances may be.
Although, even as he runs his magic over Luke to scan his injuries, Magnus worriedly notes the very clear rift practically gaping between Alexander and his parabatai. Clearly, something happened.
But as much as Magnus wants to ask, wants to offer a sympathetic ear at least, Luke very much takes precedence right now. The wolf is already much further gone than Magnus would like and if he wants even the slightest chance of actually healing him, then Magnus has to focus on the rather complex potion he needs to brew first. Alpha-inflicted wounds are always a bitch to heal.
Thankfully, Magnus at least knows the required potion quite well. It's not like this is the first time he has healed a newly crowned alpha werewolf from the wounds incurred during the fight for alphaship.
Mentally noting the extent of Luke's wounds, Magnus quickly makes his way towards his study to collect the ingredients he needs, completely ignoring the drama between the three teenagers he doesn't really know arguing in his living room.
A love triangle. What fun.
Magnus only realizes while he is already digging through his cabinet for a certain vial that the reason he doesn't hear Alexander chiming in on the argument is because the Shadowhunter apparently decided to follow Magnus to his study instead. And he is now standing in the doorway, interestedly watching him gather some of the vials he needs for the potion he is about to brew.
Once Magnus actually focuses on him, Alexander immediately takes another step into the study and says, "Thanks for helping us again, Magnus."
"Oh, don't worry about it at all, Alexander." Magnus smiles at him reassuringly. "I'm glad you brought Luke here. He'll make a much better alpha than the previous one and I'm happy to heal him."
Magnus truly doesn't mind. Actually, he really rather likes the fact that Alexander's first thought when he needed help was to come to Magnus.
Alexander's lips quirk in a smile as he gives another interested glance around the study before focusing on him fully once more, saying, "I think, I'll go back to the Institute to help Izzy keep things under wraps and to cover for Jace and Clary."
And Magnus nods and finally turns to face Alexander fully, his arms full of vials and containers with various ingredients which he will need for the potion. He feels a slight smile curve his lips at the sight of the Shadowhunter so casually standing in what is truly the heart of his home.
Although, he can't help but once more notice that there is something aggravated in the way Alexander holds himself, something uneasy in his expression. And Magnus is quite sure that it has something to do with that oh-so-clear rift between Alexander and his parabatai he observed earlier.
And urgency to get back to Luke or no, Magnus just can't help but take a step closer, asking carefully, worriedly, "Are you alright?"
He doesn't specify what he is asking about. There truly is no need.
There is a brief pause as Alexander's eyes focus on him fully for a few seconds before the Shadowhunter just gives a single, slow, not-quite-hesitant-but-not-entirely-certain nod.
Magnus accepts the non-verbal 'I think so, but we will see' that is implied, not wanting to push, and instead just asks, "Would you like me to make you a portal back to the Institute?"
Alexander raises an eyebrow. "Oh, are you sure? Aren't you too…" He waves a hand vaguely at the numerous ingredients Magnus is currently holding.
"Very sure, my dear," Magnus just grins, flicking two of his fingers which aren't currently occupied holding on to something, easily opening a portal off to the side.
His Shadowhunter just smiles at him rather bashfully – Magnus really doesn't think he'll ever get tired of these lovely reactions – before giving a slight nod in thanks and stepping towards the portal. But then Alexander halts mid-step, unexpectedly pauses. Before quickly turning instead and crossing the few steps separating him from Magnus and then leaning in.
It's a chaste kiss, warm and light, just a quick, but far-too-new-to-be-casual press of lips. And Magnus hates that his hands are currently too full to actually reach out to touch Alexander before the Shadowhunter is already pulling back.
"Thanks for the portal," he murmurs against Magnus lips.
And before Magnus can think of anything to say in reply, Alexander is already gone, quickly disappearing through the portal.
Magnus just stands there for a few seconds, blinking at having been taken by surprise with a kiss for the second time on the same day.
Then, he huffs a rather helpless laugh, shaking his head in wonderment even as he closes the portal and finally starts making his way back towards his living room.
Really, he is so smitten with this one it's not even funny anymore.
xxx
When Alec returns to the Institute, Izzy is waiting for him at the entrance, seeming almost frantic, pulling him aside immediately.
There is anger and desperation and something that almost looks a little bit like fear in her eyes. Alec has never seen her like this before and just the thought of what could possibly have her look like this immediately has all of his protective instincts rising.
Only to then stare at her absolutely blindsided when she finally pushes him into an empty room and tells him just what his parents are planning for him.
Apparently, his parents are planning to marry Alec off. For a political alliance. His parents are planning to pretty much trade in Alec's future for a slightly better standing with the Clave.
And they didn't even have the guts to tell him themselves, much less to actually consult him. Like his future and his happiness is a commodity for them to simply trade away as they please.
Fury pulses through him as he clenches his teeth. And Izzy can clearly tell just how angry he is, her eyes uncharacteristically wide in open, honest worry.
"Alec, we'll find a way out of this. We will," she says emphatically, something desperate and imploring in her eyes. But he can also see her helplessness, can see how very afraid she is of what their parents might get him to agree to.
And honestly, he gets where she is coming from, gets why she is so worried.
Because not so long ago and Alec might have maybe raged and railed against the unfairness of it all, but there is a very good chance that he might still have gone along with his parents' demands. For the sake of the Lightwood name.
There honestly isn't much that he wouldn't be willing to do for their family.
And not so long ago, Alec had still been entirely convinced that he would never be able to have what he actually wanted anyway, that he would never have a chance to truly be happy. So why would he have bothered to fight his parents on this?
But. So very recently, things have changed. Quite significantly so.
Because Alec met Magnus.
And right from the very start, right from that first night spent talking at the bar of a Downworlder nightclub, it has just been so easy, so natural to simply be with Magnus, to let himself fall into this thing between them. And then the phone conversations that are still pretty much the highlight of Alec's day. And so very recently making this into something more.
And Alec knows that he is already well on his way to falling for Magnus. Angel, does he know. But even though it should scare him, it somehow just doesn't. Not really.
Sure, there are nerves and doubts and a certain level of insecurity. But not nearly enough to actually deter Alec in any way.
Because he wants Magnus. Of that he is certain.
Just like he is sure that Magnus wants him in return.
And suddenly, for the first time getting what he wants, being happy is actually an option.
Alec honestly can't remember ever feeling even remotely as happy as he does whenever he spends time with Magnus, whether it's just sitting on his balcony talking or whether it's kissing him this morning, or whether it's just thinking about seeing Magnus again or every time Magnus sends him a text message or calls.
Honestly, anything that includes Magnus in any capacity seems to make Alec ridiculously, stupidly happy.
And Shadowhunter reputation or no, now that Alec knows he can have this, that it is even an option for him, there is simply no way he is willing to give it up again.
Marrying for anything less than this? For anything that makes him even slightly less happy than he is whenever he so much as thinks of Magnus? Yeah, sounds like an absolutely ludicrous thing to even consider.
And, yes, from the very start he has been fully aware that dating a male warlock was never going to go down well with his parents or the Clave. Ever since the moment he realized that he not only likes Magnus but that he also definitely wants more, wants an actual, committed relationship with him, Alec knew that a fight with his parents was inevitable.
But at the same time this fight is also already over. Because thing is, Alec has already made his choice, has already made up his mind. And he will not budge on this.
So, yes, Alec gets why Izzy is worried. And, yes, he is absolutely furious with his parents for making plans for him as though he were little more than a pawn for them to move around as they please, not even having the damn decency to talk to him beforehand.
But he doesn't feel any real panic, no actual fear.
It might have been a different story if his parents had suggested this just a few weeks ago. But now, they are simply a little too late.
And Alec is entirely ready to just go confront his parents about this fact right now, to disabuse them of this notion of theirs that they can just make decisions for him regarding his future, but he doesn't actually get the chance to do just that.
Because of course that's the exact moment his phone starts to ring. It's Jace asking for his help with Luke's healing.
And Alec just sighs in exasperation, even as he promptly starts making his way back towards the Institute's entrance. After trying to assure Izzy as best as he can without actually mentioning what is going on between him and Magnus, for no other reason than that explaining that would simply take up far too much time right now. He'll have to fill her in later.
Seriously, not a single damn moment of peace in his life.
xxx
Magnus can admit that the little troop of Shadowhunters - plus one almost impressively chatty mundane - makes a pretty great team if they want to and healing Luke turns out to be the very definition of a team effort.
Jace and Simon run around New York getting ingredients, Clary does her best to help Magnus with brewing while also keeping Luke calm - and despite having a sort of identity crisis on the side - and Alexander returns to the loft just in time to lend Magnus the strength he needs to finish the healing.
And usually, this procedure wouldn't even come close to depleting Magnus' magic reserves but he might have been overdoing it a little recently, what with the strain of yesterday's summoning - he might have downplayed just how much power had been required to summon such a powerful demon -, portaling Shadowhunters every which way, dealing with a small emergency of a young warlock who had gotten himself stuck halfway in portal-limbo earlier today and also spending quite a bit of his magic in a scrying ritual looking for Dot - or at the very least her body, because if she is truly dead then she at least deserves the proper rituals for her burial - and now even Magnus' reserves are running a little low.
He is truly thankful when Alexander shows up again just in time and, goodness, if this boy doesn't have pure, unadulterated strength hidden away in his core.
And, yes, he might have been fibbing a little about specifically needing Alexander here to help him with the ritual. But for one, it is in fact much easier to borrow strength from someone Magnus feels a personal connection to and who also trusts him enough to actually open himself up to Magnus' powers. And secondly, because Magnus might also secretly have hoped that having Jace actually call Alexander for help might help heal whatever rift there is between the two parabatai.
Which also seems to have worked at least somewhat, to Magnus' relief. Anything that helps making Alexander's life even a little bit easier is a success in his eyes.
Still, with Luke healed and resting in his guest bedroom, Magnus promptly proceeds to boot the entire group of teenagers out of his loft - even Clarissa who tries to insist on staying behind - sending them back to the Institute or wherever else they might be staying. Well, Alexander makes absolutely no move to leave with the others, clearly assuming that Magnus kicking everyone out doesn't actually apply to him. Quite rightfully so.
And then, it's only him and Alexander once more.
Magnus certainly hadn't expected to get to spend another evening with Alexander so soon and honestly, if this is the result, Magnus is actually quite happy to deal with depleted magical reserves and teenagers taking over his loft from time to time.
And now, they are sitting outside again, this time both of them with a glass of red wine. Although, there isn't nearly as much talking going on as usual.
Because Magnus has spent most of his day thinking about their kiss by the door this morning. Then that brief, casual kiss in his study earlier in his study, which honestly felt more like a tease than anything else.
He has been wanting another taste.
So, once they have settled outside, glasses in hand, Magnus just reaches up to cup the back of Alexander's neck, pulling his Shadowhunter in for a kiss. And Alexander immediately follows, easily letting his arm settle along the back of the bench behind Magnus, making space for Magnus to lean into his side.
And it's nice and chaste at first, just lips moving against each other. Gentle and testing and absolutely unhurried. And so so warm.
But gradually it changes.
The kiss keeps growing more and more intense, until Magnus is leaning halfway against Alexander's chest, the Shadowhunter's hand buried in Magnus' hair. Lips moving, tongues sliding together, sharing their breath.
It still takes Magnus a while to realize something really rather important, something he should maybe have realized before but simply didn't. Because when Magnus finally licks his way into Alexander's mouth, the Shadowhunter just seems to entirely lose his breath for a second, only to then promptly relax into it, easily copying the movements of his tongue.
And while Alexander definitely knows how to kiss chastely, this right here, really making out, kissing open-mouthed and hot and languid, this is apparently a different story. This is clearly new to him.
Magic.
Alexander is learning how to kiss. From Magnus. Right now.
Molten heat fizzles down Magnus' spine.
He can't help but let the kiss grow even more intense, hotter. Lets his tongue slide languidly, slickly against Alexander's, swallows down the deep, rather rumbly sound Alexander makes when Magnus licks along the roof of his mouth, pulls back a bit to nip at Alexander's lower lip and delights in the way Alexander's hand immediately tightens in his hair in reaction, the slight shiver it elicits.
Magnus has to actively push down the desire that is making it slightly harder to think. He so wants to pull away slightly, wants to kiss along Alexander's jaw, wants to run his lips and tongue along that ridiculously hot neck rune, down towards where his neck meets his shoulder, wants to set his teeth there. Wants to see and hear and feel Alexander's reaction to having Magnus leave a mark on him.
But he forces himself to keep the kiss slow, even if bone-meltingly hot. Because this simply isn't the time to take this any further. Not before they've actually talked and definitely not if what Magnus is starting to suspect about Alexander's dating history is actually true.
So for now, this right here is absolutely perfect.
xxx
Alec thinks that unless the apocalypse starts going down around him right now, he simply isn't going to move. Possibly not ever.
They've been kissing for a while now and the mind-meltingly hot kiss from earlier has by now turned into something slower and softer and somehow even warmer, their lips just moving together languidly, unhurriedly.
And Alec just keeps getting lost in the feeling of kissing Magnus and being so close to each other and being allowed to run his hands through Magnus' hair and having the warlock leaning easily into his side.
Finally, Magnus pulls back slightly, out of the kiss, but doesn't actually move away, just lets himself relax even further where he is leaning against Alec, taking a sip from his glass before tilting his head back against the arm Alec still has settled along the back of the bench.
It's warm and comfortable and so easy and natural. And Alec just absolutely adores it.
He feels his chest expand with an absolutely content sigh, as he fully relaxes as well. Yeah, he definitely isn't moving.
They just relax in silence, neither of them saying anything as they watch the city at night, just enjoying the peace and quiet in each other's company.
Alec is currently so content right where he is, his thoughts just aimlessly drifting, but also somehow entirely focused on Magnus, unable to really think about anything else. His mind unfocused but also somehow full of everything that happened today, everything that changed but still somehow stayed entirely the same.
Not only this morning but also with the whole Luke situation. There is just something about Magnus having apparently told Jace earlier that he needs Alec, having been entirely open about not only needing help but also wanting that help to come from Alec. Just as Alec's decision to bring Luke here for help had been entirely automatic. It had simply seemed natural to come here, knowing that Magnus wouldn't turn him away.
He really likes that they are able and also willing to so easily rely on each other, not even questioning whether the other would help.
Alec wants that. Quite desperately so.
Wants to be able to lean on Magnus when he needs help and desperately wants Magnus to lean on him whenever the warlock needs something as well. And Alec doesn't want it to be just because they know each other, or work well together, or even know that they can count on each other, or anything of the sort.
No, he wants Magnus to lean on him because he's Alec's and wants to be able to lean on Magnus because Alec is his. Or the other way around. Whichever.
Point is, Alec wants that, wants that sort of equal partnership and devotion and trust. It's all he's ever wanted and all he never thought he could actually have.
So, when Magnus slightly tilts his head to look at him, a warm smile curving his lips, his eyes soft and his expression entirely open, Alec is simply helpless to follow the almost physical pull to lean back in for another kiss.
And maybe it's simply because Alec has never felt quite this happy and wants some sort of affirmation that he'll get to keep this, maybe it's because of everything that happened today, maybe it also has something to do with his parents planning to marry him off and thus Alec suddenly wanting to be able to put a name to whatever it is they have between them.
But when he finally pulls back again - after who knows how long of getting lost in kissing Magnus again - the words just slip out, murmured against Magnus' lips.
"Be my boyfriend?" It's out before Alec even makes the conscious decision to speak. But, angel, does he mean it.
There is only a brief pause, just a second or two before a smile is spreading over Magnus' face, a smile so wide, so bright, so happy it makes the warlock's eyes crinkle slightly at the corners.
Alec breathes out - caught somewhere between relief and joy and breathlessness at the happiness he can see in Magnus' eyes - and he doesn't even give Magnus a chance to actually say anything before he is already leaning in for yet another kiss.
It's not like Alec actually needs a verbal reply. The answer is all too clear in Magnus' eyes.
A/N: Alright. So, this was just absolutely cavity-inducing XD This entire chapter turned out far, emfar/em heavier on the malec content than I had planned… But, oh well, hope you enjoy the malec goodness :)
And I'll try to continue including a few (altered) scenes from season1 from time to time, even as I'm really going to start twisting the plot from here on out, with most of the changes originating from Alec's now pretty much established season2, he's-mine-so-deal-with-it attitude :D
And thank you so so much for all your wonderful reviews! They always make me so happy (*^^*)
