Ten o'clock. Alec flipped his phone open and closed, not expecting a call or a text. It was just something easy and harmless to fidget with.
As Magnus requested, he'd drawn the protection rune on the door. No one was coming through uninvited. That was the point, wasn't it? Magnus was concerned that someone would attack again? They were down a team member, and Magnus wouldn't be immediately available. Not that Alec honestly thought anyone would break into the Institute.
Then again, who would have thought demons would take over Alicante? It was a nightmarish experience he didn't expect (or hope) to see again during his lifetime.
The longer he had to wait, the more concerned Alec became. Not for his own safety, of course – but for Isabelle. He knew it was serious. He wasn't expecting a quick fix. It must be taking a lot of energy, healing her. His worry was that there was something wrong – what if it was something even Magnus couldn't fix? What if his extraordinary healing magic wasn't enough? What if there was more to the burns, and like when they tried to apply the iratze, it just got worse? After all, he and Jace were baffled by her condition. Demon attacks usually looked like a really bad animal attack: bite marks, claw marks, puncture wounds. Not burns.
But Magnus had said he had several ideas who had hurt her. Or what, at least. Alec trusted him to do his best, and fully expected an exhausted, drained Magnus to show up at his door.
Two hours had lapsed. Alec was starting to get very restless. His bedroom was just that: a bed to sleep in, a small closet, and a storage for a few personal items. It was nothing like a mundane's bedroom, for example – no television, no radio, no game system. He had borrowed two books, but he wasn't interested in catching up on his reading. And there was no activity on his cell – why would there be? Magnus was busy.
At the two and a half hour mark, when Alec had removed his boots and curled up above the covers, attempting to catch up on some sleep, there was a soft pinging sound. He sat up sharply, looking towards the opposite wall.
His skin prickled. Slowly, he climbed down from the bed and grabbed his stele. His seraph blade was in his belt.
Listening for that sound again, Alec started when he heard his name on the other side of the bedroom door.
"Alec," Magnus sighed. "Please open the door." He sounded so tired.
Crossing the room quickly, Alec flipped the latch and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway (effectively ending the need for the rune). Magnus's shirt, once a neon green with a picture of Coney Island on the front, was stained with blood. Isabelle's blood. His coat was draped over his shoulder, his head cocked to one side. His face looked oddly pale, even his lips more white than pink. And his hair, while still in the styled spikes, appeared to be sagging.
"Come in," Alec urged, gently tugging on Magnus's arm. He didn't rush to ask if Isabelle was all right. He hoped the answer was obvious. Magnus had worked tirelessly for two and half hours. She must be all right.
"Clary is with her," Magnus said softly, as if he knew.
"That's good. Better Clary than Jace."
Magnus didn't argue, moving to sit down on the bed, his posture worse than usual. His back wasn't slouching, it was collapsing.
"What about you?" Alec asked, standing in front of him. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I will be. Out of commission for a few hours, though."
"Can I…get you anything?"
"Help me remove this shirt?" Magnus asked, making a face. He had an aversion to the blood.
Alec nodded, reaching for the ends of the t-shirt. Magnus lifted his arms over his head, and Alec peeled the cotton shirt upward along his torso, over his arms, and dropped it to the floor.
"Do you want to borrow a shirt?"
Magnus snickered. "A belly shirt, you mean?"
"Hm?"
"We're not quite the same size. You're big, I'm tall."
"I'm not big."
"And yet your shirt is loose on me. Does that mean I'm small?"
"You are, kind of. I mean, you're thin."
"Do you mind if I just stay like this for a while?"
"OK," Alec replied, then bit his lip.
"Is it too distracting?" Magnus asked.
The warlock's chest did shimmer with glitter all the way down to his waist, but it wasn't that. Alec was just debating.
"Do you want to remove your pants too? So you can lie down?" Alec asked softly.
"I would love to."
"OK."
Magnus rose again from the bed, weaving a bit. Alec's hand shot out, supporting his waist.
"Sorry. Punch drunk."
"You get the belt and the zipper, and I'll do the pulling," Alec offered, although his face was very red.
Magnus nodded, loosening the belt buckle, unsnapping the button, and dragging the zipper down on his pants.
Alec reached for the waistband of his pants, now hanging off his slender hips.
"Wait," Magnus said.
"What?"
"I don't wear underwear, Alec."
"OK," Alec replied, heartbeat thudding in his ears.
"I just wanted to warn you."
Alec nodded.
"Do you want me to change underneath the covers?"
"If you want."
Magnus's eyebrows shot up. "You're absolutely fine with this?"
"I just want to help," Alec whispered, lowering his eyes.
Magnus reached out to cup the shadowhunter's cheek again, only now his hand was very warm. Alec turned his head to kiss that hand.
"Ugh. I've got blood under my fingernails," Magnus noted.
"I'll help you wash your hands."
"I'm not completely useless."
"Just dead on your feet," Alec pointed out.
"Touché," Magnus replied.
Alec slid his arm around Magnus's waist, helping him to the bathroom. Once there, he hovered in the doorway while Magnus washed his hands, and scrubbed his nails with a fresh bar of soap. While he worked, Alec watched the light of the bathroom play off the glitter on his back.
"Thank you," Alec said after a minute, eyes on Magnus's reflection in the mirror. Magnus glanced up, meeting his eyes through the glass.
"You're welcome," he replied simply. He didn't smile.
That bothered Alec, these somber moments that just seemed so…un-Magnus. Something was bothering him, and it wasn't just the temporary loss of energy. Magnus was acting strangely when he first arrived at the Institute.
Wanting to chase away that unfamiliar Magnus, Alec pressed his mouth to the back of his bare shoulder, wondering if some of the glitter would rub off on his lips. Magnus watched him do it, and finally something warm shifted in his eyes.
He turned around and framed Alec's face with his wet hands, and then they were kissing. Alec moaned against his mouth, winding his arms around Magnus's waist for support – letting the warlock lean into him. And he did, sagging more than really leaning, though his mouth was strong against Alec's. Magnus's tongue eased between Alec's lips, and tangled with his.
Alec's fingertips dug into Magnus's lower back, above the drooping waistband of his pants. Magnus withdrew a bit, taking a breath, and nibbling his lower lip. Sucking in a fortifying breath of his own, Alec slid the ends of his fingers inside Magnus's pants, pushing the waistband down further.
Magnus lifted his head. Alec whimpered at the loss.
"What are you doing?"
"Helping you," Alec breathed, looking up into Magnus's eyes with some effort.
Magnus shook his head. "And when you're traumatized from seeing me naked? I don't want it to be on my conscience because you thought you were doing me a favor. If you're ready to take that step, let me know. But let's not pretend it's just for my comfort." Though his choice of words were stern, Magnus's voice wasn't. His voice was soft and rough, that low rasp that Alec secretly loved.
Alec nodded, biting his lip again. It was a nervous gesture, but a lot less embarrassing than turning red every time he was uncomfortable. "I want to help," Alec replied, and then added in a whisper: "And I…wouldn't mind seeing you."
Magnus sucked in a breath, bringing his forehead closer, resting against Alec's.
"Let's go to bed."
Alec nodded, sliding his arm around Magnus's waist again, helping him across the room. He dragged the comforter back, unmaking the bed, then helped Magnus sit down again.
He'd almost forgotten about Magnus's boots. Alec knelt down, untying the laces for him.
"Is it wrong that I love watching you remove my shoes?" Magnus drawled.
Alec flicked a tentative smile back up at him, tugging off the first one. Then the second. Magnus's socks were rainbow. Of course.
"Leave them," Magnus suggested, withdrawing his legs on his own and sliding them up onto the bed.
Alec rose, removing his blood-flecked shirt as well, tossing it aside. Then he rounded the bed, unconsciously taking the same side as when they slept together at Magnus's place. He removed his belt and climbed up into bed, moving under the blanket.
"I'm sorry. It's not as warm as your comforter," Alec said.
"It's all right," Magnus replied. "We'll make do."
"Umm…what about your pants?"
"I'm shimmying them off right now," Magnus replied, with a grin. Alec thought he was just moving to get comfortable.
The weight of his pants hit the floor outside the bed, and finally Magnus lay back against the solitary pillow, face to face with Alec.
Alec breathed and blushed, and looked back into Magnus's eyes. Magnus lifted his hand, thumb caressing his jaw.
"She's going to be fine," he related, referring to Isabelle.
"I know."
"She will be sore, and in desperate need of a bath. But I healed the sum of the burns, and the mess she made of her skin."
"It wasn't her fault," Alec frowned.
"Not the attack, no. But the thrashing. I know, it was in response to the pain, but it didn't help. I'll bring you some restraints, in case you need them in the future."
"I think a strong sedative would have done just as well," Alec pointed out.
"Sorry, darling. I can't bottle up my snap."
Alec smiled a little, shaking his head. "But isn't there something else we could use?"
"There are a lot of things. But I'm spent for one night."
"We'll pay for it, of course."
Magnus scoffed, scooting closer. "No, you won't. I'm not charging."
Alec breathed in sharply as Magnus's leg brushed his through his pants.
"Whatever you can do."
Magnus nodded, eyes closed. He nuzzled Alec's cheek, running his nose along the ends of his hair. "You smell so good."
"Thank you?"
"Mm. I love you."
"I love you too," Alec replied, resting his hand on Magnus's side. When he decided that wasn't too weird, he fully embraced him, hugging the slim warlock closer.
The tension had completely gone out of Magnus's body. His back relaxed, his fingers trailed softly up and down Alec's arm, though slowing down. He murmured happily against Alec's hair.
The moment was so perfect, so unbearably sweet, Alec felt the unexpected prickle of tears, burning his eyes. He tried to blink them away. It was stupid to cry because he was…cuddling with his boyfriend.
Maybe it was mixed up with his relief that Isabelle was OK, and the release of stress after a very long day. He was so tired. Maybe that's what it was. He needed to sleep.
But when Magnus's mouth found his throat, pressing warm, wet kisses down to his collarbone, he decided with a shiver that sleep could wait a little while longer.