Magnus's eyes were trained on them, his heart heavy as it battled between shock, elation, and jealousy. He kept himself firmly out of sight behind the cornerstone of an adjacent building.

His mind was still reeling from the warning he had just been given. Meeting the girl who had sat next to him at the cinema was no coincidence. As the entire audience was leaving, she reached out and held him back by his arm. She then murmured urgently, "You've only got 5 hours left."

Magnus flinched.

She promptly let him go right after, standing up from her own seat and trailing after her parents, leaving Magnus still sitting on the seat, unmoving like an anchor was weighing him down even as she vanished from his view.

Now, he was leaning the upper part of his not-even-corporeal body on the wall to wait until Tyler left by route of the street in front of him.

He didn't have to wait long, Tyler walked by not even five minutes afterward. His hair was mussed and his coat was wrinkled. Magnus hated that he noticed it in the first place. He should've been happy for Alec. And he was happy for him. Yet, it was not the full extent of his feelings.

Shaking his head to clear the current thoughts away, he walked into their apartment building. Alec's apartment building. Not his anymore, and most definitely not theirs.

Magnus had only just stepped inside the loft's door when he jumped in fright.

"Hi Magnus." Alec was standing right behind the door he had just closed, greeting Magnus with an absentminded smile on his face.

He could tell that his husband had been waiting for him. Alec took a full week off for them to spend time together in New York. A quiet voice inside of him whispered, which also meant he would have more time with Tyler. Magnus believed that Alec wasn't lying, so he tried to quench that unnecessary seed of doubt.

They were in New York together for the very last time, if the warning was to be believed. There was something ironically poetic about it, of everything ending where it all started.

He stepped further away from the threshold and deeper into the loft. "Hello Alexander." Magnus couldn't help but take in his husband's slightly chapped lips and froze altogether.

Alec caught his look and unconsciously licked his lips. They stared awkwardly at each other for a few moments, unsure of how to even begin broaching the subject.

Magnus knew that his husband had figured out that he had seen them kissing earlier, and could see the uncertainty coiling in his tense shoulders. Nonetheless, Alexander clapped his hands together and broke the silence. "You saw, then."

No sense in beating around the bush, Magnus confirmed, "Yes." But he needed Alec to know that didn't have any intention to spy on them. "I'm sorry I wasn't-"

"It's okay." Magnus inwardly sighed in relief. "Well, at least you're happy now. Aren't you?" Alec questioned.

"What?" Magnus stared at Alec like he just sprouted a second head.

Alec's voice turned flat. "It's what you've been asking of me, remember?"

"Yes, and I truly am happy for you." Magnus carefully kept a tight lid on his true emotions that were at risk of spilling over.

Magnus saw Alec clench his hands at his sides. "So, that's it? That's all you have to say to me? Really, Magnus?" His tone was as hard as his expression.

Magnus unwittingly clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "And what would you have me do? Lie?"

His non-answer seemed to only irk Alexander further, which made him shoot back with a question of his own, "Why do you keep assuming that it's easy for me to move on?" Alec hadn't even taken his shoes off, and they're already arguing.

"Because it is." Magnus wanted to lift his hands in exasperation. "We've known each other for four years. How does that give you any sort of idea that you can't live without me?" Four years would still be considered a short time even by mortal standards, especially when relationships are concerned.

Alec got into the posture that Magnus had mentally branded as 'his fighting pose'; it was not necessarily for fighting demons, but more about getting ready to verbally shut down any opposing arguments. Alec frowned. "No, you're not getting me."

Could someone remind Magnus again the reason he chose someone so exceptionally stubborn?

Oh right, the pretty eyes on an equally pretty face. Maybe his open heart also played a part, but it was primarily those gorgeous eyes and the frankly sinful deflect rune with it's flattering placement that were to blame.

Daydreams aside, Magnus had a point, or several, to hammer home into that thick skull of his. He retaliated, "You're the one who's not getting me. You can, Alexander. You've only known me for four years. We got married within the first. None of this is normal." Not to mention, they were neck-deep in a war which truly wasn't the best environment to build a relationship.

He still hated seeing Alec's eyes glisten with suppressed tears.

Magnus tried to run his hand over Alec's shoulders, to reassure him even as he was breaking his husband's self-deception. He caught sight of the crestfallen look entering Alec's glassy eyes upon seeing how Magnus' hand merely went right through just like they both knew it would.

He could, obviously, fetch his gloves, but Magnus felt that it would be no different than pretending that everything was still somewhat okay when everything was undoubtedly not.

Magnus continued, "I thought that I would get to hold on to you for a little while longer. That we'd have time to grow." By all means, it was a simple wish compared to all the shit he went through. "Because I promised my entire life to you. The remaining of my life with you, for you." But Magnus had forgotten a simple truth; he was never meant to have a happy ending. "We didn't get to have that, and I don't want you to shut yourself off. I really don't."

Alec deserved a better ending than a tragedy.

As if the world itself was agreeing with him, Magnus heard an unknown voice ringing inside his mind. Four hours, it said. The voice chilled him right down to his bones.

Alexander undoubtedly deserved better than him. The old warlock with too much traumatic baggage, not to mention the universe's vendetta against his love life. Magnus would never be husband material for anyone, not for any of his past lovers, and most definitely not for the only person who loved him enough to ask.

Their current argument functioned as a double-edged sword, forcibly dragging both him and Alec to the ground by exposing a small fraction of their deeply buried feelings. The ones they always kept inside for fear of wasting precious time, as every ominous ticking of seconds never failed to remind them of exactly how much time Alec had left.

Why bother thinking of every bad thing that made up them, when they barely even had time to enjoy the good parts?

The current situation was so ironically absurd by comparison, that it also might just be what their relationship needed.

Too bad Magnus wouldn't be here to relish in the aftermath.

"I don't need you to do it right now, I just need you to try," Magnus almost pleaded.

"Easy for you to say." Alec turned away from him to face the ingredients shelf. His eyes could burn a hole with the intensity of his stare, but there was no doubt that he was still paying rapt attention to every word coming out of Magnus' mouth.

"When have I ever given the idea that it was easy for me? It's not. Do you think I want this?" Magnus could see the slight shrug Alec gave as a response.

Magnus stepped closer to his husband, longing to be able to wrap his arms around his middle and lean his head on his shoulder like he used to do. Back when things were normal, when they were happy. "I'm not undermining your love for me, but I have been waiting for a love like ours for centuries," Magnus spoke out, and he could almost hear the way Alec's breath caught in his throat.

"The moment I had that, I could only grasp onto it for a short period of time. It meant so much more for me than you think." Magnus gave a mirthless laugh. "Just because you think I'm the love of your life-"

"You are!" Alec said indignantly, finally turning around.

Magnus corrected himself, "Just because I am the love of your life," In front of him, Alec huffed, his husband had always had a knack for detecting his sarcasm. "it doesn't give you free reign to shut yourself off."

"As I said, congratulations. You've got your wish, Magnus. Feel free to throw a party on my behalf or something."

Magnus cocked his head, like something had finally clicked in his head. "Well, I guess that solved it."

"What?" Alec tilted his head in confusion, looking to all the world like an adorable puppy.

Magnus shifted on his feet, avoiding Alec's gaze. "I have to go soon."

"Go? Where?" Alec sounded distressed.

Magnus' fingers went to fiddle with his wedding ring, and he stiffened when he couldn't feel the thin band of metal, then remembered that he last saw it in his jewellery box where Alec must've put it after his funeral. "Go, go."

"Go? After all this, and you're just going to go? What?" Alec's face broke into a twisted smile. "Bored of being my daily pesky ghost?" Alec must've seen Magnus' wince, for his eyes immediately softened. He even looked vaguely apologetic.

"Have you forgotten? I made a deal, Alec. A deal I plan to follow through with," Magnus said, gravely.

Alec squared his shoulders, "Well, since we're in such a sharing mood." He shrugged a little too casually. "I lied earlier."

Magnus made an inquisitive noise. Alec looked to the ground, mumbling, "I don't have feelings for him."

"What?" Alec couldn't see the bewildered look Magnus was sporting.

Alec's hands flapped weakly at his sides. "Tyler. I don't have feelings for Tyler, at all."

"Then what the hell was that all about?" Magnus asked incredulously.

Alec raked his fingers through his hair. "By the Angel, I just wanted you to be jealous, Magnus!" He yelled, before quickly covering his mouth with his hand. Alec was blushing faintly even as he studiously stared at the floor like it was an unparalleled masterpiece.

Magnus' lips formed an o, then his jaw fell before snapping shut. "Oh," was all he could say.

Alec lifted his head to stare at him hopefully, "So, this means you don't have to leave, right?"

Magnus hated to disappoint him, but orders are orders. He looked away in a futile effort to hide the tears beginning to well in his eyes. "I can't stay, Alexander."

"No, no," Alec's voice cracked. "I refuse to accept that. I won't lose you, not again." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're here now, we could work something out." He gazed at Magnus like he held all the answers in the world.

"There is no working out." Magnus shook his head. "What you're suggesting is wrong on so many levels, and I refuse to be any part of that. I would rather go than live with any consequences that would be dealt upon you."

Alec raised his chin. "That's my choice to make, not yours."

"For what? Because you just want some years with me? I'm not worth it." Alexander still had a long life ahead, one that wasn't worth throwing away for a pale imitation of what could've been.

"You are." The love in Alec's voice was clear as day. "You're worth everything to me. If it ends up with me paying the price, then so be it." That love manifested itself into his conviction.

Magnus took in a deep breath, "You'll end up in Hell, Alec. That's the cost. It may not be too much for you, but it certainly is for me."

"I don't give a shit." Alec scowled, "Why won't you let me make this choice?"

"Oh, I don't know, Alexander." Magnus was unsurprised to see how flushed his husband's face was; Alec never really shed the protective mantle he currently wore like an armor.

Despite the talk they had after their wedding about drawing the line on being self-sacrificial for one another, it should've peeved him to know that his husband would willfully ignore it when push came to shove. But as much as Magnus disliked the trait, it had always been one of Alec's shining qualities and seeing it made his disembodied heart thump a little faster nonetheless.

However, being charmed didn't eradicate Magnus' dissent. "Maybe because I don't want you to throw away everything you worked for your entire life as a shadowhunter! You protect the mundanes from demons, and to what? To just end up in Hell?" Magnus asked, incredulously. "I cannot in good conscience let you bear that. Ever." He punctuated his point by mock-jabbing Alec's chest - being off by a few centimetres.

"Stop treating me like a kid who's not mature enough to make his own choices, Magnus," Alec snapped.

Refusing to back down, Magnus spat back, "Could've fooled me, Alec."

Alec rolled his eyes, "I can't argue with you like this. You're never going to agree, anyway. Why bother?"

Magnus knew his husband was expecting a reply, but he kept his lips pressed together; he feared that whatever he said would only worsen the situation. Alec pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "You know what, I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Fine," was all Magnus uttered, even as his brain screamed at himself to say, Please stay, don't leave me.

The callous attitude Magnus showed for everything only served to rile Alec up even more. "Fine." was all his husband deigned to say, and it tore a rift in his heart.

Alec stomped away from the loft, feeling his anger ebbing away with each step he took. His sight was blurry from leftover tears, but he could clearly see the road in front of him still.

The hollow picture he had was crumbling faster than Alec could blink, reduced into smoke that he could almost smell at the bottom of his lungs. Magnus had always been the glue in keeping everything together, all the things that made up Alec.

Alec was a mess when Magnus first-

Might as well just say it, Alec, his traitorous mind whispered.

Alec was a disaster when Magnus first died. The thought of going through the same pain again was incomprehensible, of feeling the utter hollowness in his heart, like his whole world was crashing down.

He didn't pay attention to his path at all, yet Alec found himself near the Brooklyn Bridge area. Which, considering Magnus' history with said structure, was an ironic coincidence.

His mind was incapable of not thinking about Magnus, as pathetic it may have sounded. There simply was no chance of moving on when he was reminded of him with every breath he took.

Alec collapsed onto the first bench he saw, slumping on the seat as he held his face in his hands.

Now, nothing was standing between him and utterly falling apart, with only the gleaming afternoon Brooklyn sky as his witness.

Maybe some passing mundanes would take notice as well, and Alec regretted leaving his stele at the loft, but they knew well enough to avoid him once they caught sight of his baleful red-rimmed glare.

Hours must have passed, the sun was slowly setting, carrying with it the dark gloom of the night. Alec didn't dare open his phone for fear of being haunted by his own wallpaper. It was a candid picture of them lying down on the honeymoon suite's king-size bed, his husband pressing a soft kiss to his temple.

His favourite part was how he himself looked in the picture - unabashedly happy and content, in the arms of the man he just pledged his life to.

Just thinking of their honeymoon was enough to create a conflicting storm of emotions within him. Alec's chest felt tight with it.

He stood up from the bench to quash the aches and pains that came from staying in the same position for a long time. Alec let out a harsh breath as he leaned against the bridge railing. He took in the lovely view of the open night sky, and his mind wandered back to Magnus again, to the dismay of his vulnerable heart.

His phone rang in his pocket, Alec opened it and saw that it was his parabatai calling him. He must've felt echoes of his emotions from their bond. No matter how well Alec blocked it from his side, some could still leak through especially if his brother was paying close attention.

He rejected the call, neither in the mood nor having the emotional capability to pretend for someone, even Jace, that he was not in pieces prone to fly away from the mortal plane.

After he locked the device, Alec caught the time flashing in a tall thin font, a bigger number than he expected.

What on the Angels' name was he doing here? He was just trying to cool himself down by getting some fresh air, but didn't expect how long time had passed while he was trapped in his own reveries.

Was Magnus worried about me? Or maybe he was rejoicing to be free of me. Alec shook his head at himself, Magnus would never think that. But what kind of husband was he to leave his husband for hours at his last moments in this world?

Alec paid less heed of his surroundings and too much focus in trying to stifle his choked cries as his hands held the bridge railing in a deathly grip. It was no wonder that a demon managed to sneak up on him. Alec thwarted its attack just in the nick of time as he brandished his seraph blade in a strike through its chest.

Sadly, this particular type of demon always travelled in packs. Alec could already spot a few more approaching in his peripherals.

It was gruelling, to say the least; an unfair fight between five demons and one shadowhunter without his primary weapon. He mused unbiddenly of how he would've never been in this spot were his husband still alive. But the mere thought of Magnus tugged on his already battered heart.

Shaking his head at himself, he threw himself back into the heat of things with exaggerated vigor, for the sole purpose of distracting himself from the turbulent thoughts racing through his mind.

He parried a pincer-like claw that was aiming to rip out his heart before cutting the demon's entire arm clean off. Another demon tried to stab him from behind, and Alec spun on his heel and impaled its eyes before twisting again to slash at another, spilling ichor all over his arm.

Alas, as was common in emotionally driven fights, Alec ended up being a little too reckless.

He was overwhelmed and got pushed back against the side wall of an alley. Alec didn't see the tail inching closer to sweep his feet out from underneath him. It was successful, causing him to fall painfully to the ground, his tailbone hitting solid concrete. Alec cried out in pain. Unfortunately, his seraph blade was knocked away from him in the scuffle and he resigned himself to his fate, eyeing his certain doom with a simple thought, I wouldn't be left behind if I'm leaving first.

Any other last words he could think of were cut off by a merciless stab through his lower abdomen. Alec could only whimper as his head was slammed into a wall. He thought he heard a scream in the distance or maybe it was his blood loss talking, if the dark red liquid drenching his hands was any indication.

His diminishing lucidity was indeed worrying, but he was lucky that the jagged pincer didn't hit any life-threatening organs. He was certain that he could live another day if he could just draw an iratze, which he couldn't, since he left his stele behind.

The other issue was his doubt on whether he even wanted to survive.

Alec was snapped out of his rumination when all the demons suddenly fled the scene like the devil was on their tails. They must've assumed he had already died.

He was proven wrong when a blur of franticness waved his gloved hand in front of his face. "Alec! Alexander, can you hear me?"

Alec tried to focus his drooping eyes on the vague silvery shape of his husband kneeling in front of him.

"You came." He saw Magnus grimace at seeing him cough up blood from how hard he had clenched his jaw during the fall.

"Of course I did," Magnus said pointedly. "Did you really think I wouldn't try to find you?"

Alec looked at him in askance. "I stormed out of the loft in a fit of rage. I wasn't exactly expecting you to follow me." Magnus exhaled an exasperated sigh, even as he studiously examined his husband's stab wound.

"I'm sorry," was all Alec murmured.

"What for?" Magnus replied, distractedly. Maybe the gash was worse than Alec had thought.

"That your last hours on earth would be spent tending my wound." Alec shuddered as he felt the strange sensation of blood oozing from his nose. He must have hit his head a lot harder than he realized, and spoke in a strangled whisper, "It should've been a happy moment."

"Darling, I'm always happy when I'm with you." His husband touched Alec's shoulder with his glove-encased hand. Magnus shot him a flirty wink. "Besides, the injured man is quite the looker, if I say so myself." Alec would've rolled his eyes at him if the simple act of breathing wasn't painful. "There are certainly far worse ways to go."

"Like what?" Alec questioned drily, a painful chuckle accompanying it.

The copious amount of blood pooling on Alec's torso would've stained his hands had they been corporeal. Magnus had deduced that while his husband's wound was not fatal, it must've nicked an artery to bleed this much.

He answered Alec, "Like not being able to tell my husband how sorry I am for how pushy I've been." Magnus could feel the stare suddenly focused on him, even as he pretended to busy himself with examining his husband's body for hidden injuries. "I truly am sorry, Alexander. I just wanted you to be happy again," Magnus said apologetically.

"I know you do, and I'm also sorry that I blew up on you earlier." Alec grew increasingly pale with every word uttered, but Magnus didn't dare cut him off. He could see the determined furrow on his husband's brow. "You meant well."

"We are both partially at fault tonight, my darling. But let's not fret over it."

Magnus held out his closed fist between them, the hint of adamas poking out near his velvet forefingers was enough for Alec to try leaning in closer, and Magnus opened his hand to reveal his husband's stele.

"How?" Magnus would give anything to see Alec gaze at him like that again, like he had just performed a miracle instead of the simple task it actually was.

"A warlock never reveals his secret." Magnus winked at him for the second time that night.

Alec chuckled before stopping abruptly, his hand instinctively went to clutch the gash and Magnus could see how his husband winced at his own touch. Alec grabbed the stele in a casual hold and nimbly drew the shape he could probably draw in his sleep.

Magnus swallowed as he watched Alec finish tracing the familiar shape of an iratze, hand moving slightly to draw several others, "The time has come for me to say goodbye."

He saw Alec freeze and drop the stele held in his fingers to the cold asphalt, a half-drawn iratze fizzling from sight, and his husband was staring at him with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

Magnus offered his gloved hands to hold, which Alec absentmindedly took. "Don't leave me." Alec unintentionally quoted Magnus' unuttered thoughts from when he was the one leaving.

His ensanguined hands gripped Magnus' velvet clad ones. Alec's breath was still heaving from exertion as the smell of ichor hung tightly in the air. Blood dripped freely from his nose, yet he continued to plead. "Please don't go. Magnus, please." Magnus just wanted to take away all his pain, not add onto it.

"I can't go against the deal, Alec. It was to finish my loose ends and return immediately." Five more minutes, bellowed the eerie voice he'd been well-acquainted with recently, more impatient than ever. "I knew I couldn't leave you, not again, but if it was between that or never seeing you again," He untwined one of his hands to cup Alec's cheek, the plush material of velvet meeting silky smooth skin. "You know what my choice will always be."

Their eyes locked on each other; Magnus barely noticed Alec's previously applied iratzes doing their job, but he did notice when his incorporeal form began to disappear. Until the prone form of Alec Lightwood was found by patrolling shadowhunters, velvet gloves lying innocuously on his lap.