Around
Magnus immediately looks up from the scrolls spread out in front of him on the table when his phone pings with a new message.
These days, the likelihood of any messages he receives being from Alexander is quite high, which apparently also makes it utterly impossible for Magnus to ignore his phone whenever it makes even the slightest noise.
Honestly, at this point it's simply pointless to pretend that he isn't entirely infatuated with the Shadowhunter, infatuated to an almost ridiculous degree.
So, he just drops the scroll in his hand and reaches for his phone instead, swiping his thumb across the screen, already grinning slightly when he sees that the new message is indeed from Alexander. Only to pause, his eyebrows rising slightly in surprise, once he actually reads what it says.
'So, I'm currently in a planning session with my siblings about how to lure the High Warlock of Brooklyn, a certain Magnus Bane, from hiding in order to get him to help Clary Fray recover her memories. Any thoughts?'
Magnus just quirks a grin.
Straight to the point, as always. His lovely Shadowhunter might truly be the most straightforward person he has ever come across. Alexander's no-patience-for-bullshit attitude is honestly refreshing and in Magnus' opinion also absolutely endearing when coupled with that adorable scowl of his.
Although, maybe he should focus on the fact that Alexander now knows about Magnus being the High Warlock.
It's not like Magnus has been deliberately hiding this. Well, maybe in the beginning - when Alexander had still seemed so very skittish - Magnus might have purposely avoided the topic, worried that his position as the High Warlock might be a little much, possibly even scare Alexander off before they ever got the chance to get to know each other. And then later on, the topic has simply never come up, mostly due to the fact that they have both been avoiding anything too contentious, including Clave business on Alexander's end and Downworld business on Magnus' end.
Still, him being the High Warlock of Brooklyn is apparently out now and it's quite the relief to see that Alexander doesn't actually seem to hold it against him.
Thank magic.
xxx
Alec's lets his eyes flit between the various pictures of Magnus displayed on the screens, as he tries to focus on figuring out what eras the pictures have likely been taken in. Better to focus on that instead of on how good Magnus looks in all of them.
Because Magnus apparently always looks incredible, no matter which century he's in or how he might decide to dress.
Alec feels himself flush slightly. This is just so not the time.
He should be focusing on the revelation that the warlock he has been falling for is apparently also the High Warlock of this city and - according to Hodge - possibly one of the most powerful warlocks alive. Or on the fact that Magnus is apparently much older - and thus also likely much more powerful - than Alec had thought.
But as surprised as he feels, Alec isn't actually mad at Magnus for not mentioning any of this. He had known that there were some things Magnus wasn't telling him, same as Alec has been keeping some things to himself. Thinking about it, he is actually quite sure he never mentioned being the oldest son of one of the most influential Shadowhunter bloodlines to Magnus either. So, they might as well just call it even on that end.
He is drawn away from his thoughts by Izzy hopping up from her seat on the table to start fiddling with the screens, swiping the pictures of Magnus aside in order to pull up a poster for some sort of Downworlder rave, as a possible place for luring the High Warlock from hiding.
He once more glances down at his phone, waiting for Magnus' reply to his last message. He texted the warlock earlier, almost out of reflex, when he realized that his siblings are currently planning to track Magnus down.
It's an absolutely ridiculous plan in Alec's opinion. There is such a thing as fire messages and if you want a warlock's help you send them a message and either they accept or they don't. Luring a powerful warlock from hiding under false pretenses is an absolutely ridiculous idea.
Of course, Alec has clearly stated his opinion on that, but as has become the norm so very recently, his objections are simply ignored and the planning of yet another unsanctioned mission - which Alec will have to justify in front of the Clave later on - continues.
At this point, it just makes Alec want to roll his eyes. Sometimes his siblings are simply exasperating.
His phone vibrates and Alec immediately looks down, swiping a thumb across the screen to read the new text.
'Hm, I might in fact have something to add on that topic.'
Alec immediately has to fight the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, because. He can practically hear Magnus' teasing grin in the written words. Which should be odd considering that they've known each other for less than two weeks but also really isn't because of the many hours they've spent talking to each other whenever they can squeeze it into their schedules.
And it looks like they are apparently also skipping right past the recent revelation of Magnus being the High Warlock. But that is honestly just fine with Alec - they can always talk about it later - because he has more pressing matters to talk about right now anyway.
So, he just taps out his reply, 'Which would be?'
The answer is prompt. 'Now that would entirely depend on how you would like to play this, my dear. Should I let myself be lured out of hiding by your siblings' ever-so-cunning plan or should I just portal over to the Institute right now to join the discussion?''
Alec immediately feels a slight flush crawl up his neck at the endearment. He still hasn't quite gotten over his reaction to Magnus calling him anything other than Alexander. Which he also quite likes, likes the way his full name sounds when Magnus says it.
And yes, Alec is fully aware just how gone he is on the warlock, no need to point it out.
Thankfully, no one notices his slight blush, everyone too focused on Hodge who mentions having something that they can use to lure Magnus. And Alec just follows after their little group on their way towards the Institute's safe, even as he sobers slightly at the second part of Magnus' message.
Because he knows exactly just what Magnus is offering him here, not only regarding this particular situation but also regarding their acquaintance in general. Namely, that he'll leave it entirely up to Alec to decide whether they let people in on them knowing each other at all, that he'll go along with whatever Alec is more comfortable with.
It just seems so like Magnus to simply leave this up to him and it warms something in Alec to have Magnus be so very clearly concerned with Alec's feelings and well-being and comfort first and his own second.
Alec definitely never had that before. And it only makes him want to return the favor.
xxx
Magnus stares absently at the far wall as he fiddles with his phone, waiting for Alexander's reply. Another few seconds of this and Magnus finally huffs a breath - exasperated at himself - and he gets up to make himself a cocktail to distract himself with.
For the first time in a long time, Magnus is actually nervous.
Because just now, Magnus gave Alexander carte blanche to decide how they'll treat their 'acquaintance' in front of others. The Shadowhunter could come back with anything, from being entirely open about them recently spending as much time as they can possibly manage talking to each other, all the way to not even admitting that they know each other at all.
And as much as Magnus hopes it won't come to that, he would even understand if Alexander chooses to keep their 'acquaintance' entirely under wraps. Because it's one thing for Alexander to enjoy talking to him, but something else entirely for him to openly admit to other Shadowhunters that he enjoys a warlock's company. Magnus is well aware that not all Shadowhunters are as open-minded about Downworlders and the last thing he ever wants to do is make Alexander's life any harder than it needs to be.
But in the end, that's really all there is to it. Magnus will play along with whatever Alexander prefers, despite Magnus being already in so deep, already so very invested in this beautiful - but still so very new and fragile - connection that has been developing between him and Alexander over the past few days.
So, yes, Magnus would understand. But that doesn't change the fact that he still hopes.
xxx
Alec watches Hodge open the Institute's safe, even as his mind remains focused somewhere else entirely. Namely on the question of whether to be open about knowing Magnus or whether to keep it a secret.
The thing is that Alec honestly doesn't want to tell anyone about Magnus and him, about the fact that he has been spending a good amount of time every day talking to Magnus, by text or on the phone or - whenever he can manage – even in person, about how much he enjoys spending time with Magnus.
And it has nothing at all to do with being ashamed or with an actual need to hide it. It's simply because Alec himself isn't quite sure yet what this thing between him and Magnus even is, much less what it could possibly become. And he would really like the chance to figure that out, before complicating things by letting anyone else in on it.
Alec likes what he has with Magnus right now, likes spending his evenings talking to him, likes it when it's just the two of them, no jobs, no conflicting responsibilities, no politics, no busybody siblings sticking their noses into his business and no parents disapproving of Alec's life choices.
Alec likes having something in his life that's just for himself for once.
But.
With his siblings so dead-set on implementing their newest scheme, Magnus will likely be dragged into this mess shortly anyway, no matter what Alec's preference may be. And while Izzy clearly didn't recognize Magnus from the pictures as the guy they had seen at Pandemonium, there is a good to fair chance she will remember him once she actually sees him in person.
And as much as he would like to keep Magnus to himself - for himself - there is also absolutely no chance that Alec would be willing to pretend not knowing Magnus at all once the warlock is actually here. Yeah, no. That's definitely not happening.
So, if Magnus is going to be involved soon anyway, then there really isn't any reason to hide the fact that they already know each other. It's not like Alec has to proclaim the fact he has been developing quite the crush on one Magnus Bane recently to the entire Institute. But if anyone has a problem with Alec just knowing the High Warlock of his city, they can simply go take a hike.
Decision made, he focuses back onto his phone to tap out his reply.
xxx
'They are still arguing. Do you have time right now?'
Magnus stares at the text for a second, the implications of which making something warm and hopeful and light expand in his chest. So, apparently Alexander is not going to hide the fact that they know each other.
A possibly rather ridiculous smile starts spreading over his face even as he replies, 'On my way.'
He is already moving, quickly checking his appearance in the mirror – always got to look his best for his lovely Shadowhunter - before opening a portal with a wave of his hand.
Just as he steps out of the portal onto the Institute's lawn, his phone pings once more. 'Ask for Alec Lightwood at the door.'
Magnus raises an eyebrow at that, tapping out a response, 'Well, well, well. A Lightwood, hm?'
Well, it's not like the thought hasn't crossed his mind before – Alexander really wears the Lightwood family traits ridiculously well – but Magnus just never bothered getting an actual confirmation. Alexander's ancestry simply makes no difference to him, because that would make Magnus just about the biggest hypocrite in history.
So, he just cheerfully continues up the steps of the old church that serves as New York's Shadowhunter Institute, already looking forward to getting to see his lovely Alexander again.
xxx
Alec feels a slight grin tug at the corner of his mouth as he reads Magnus' last message.
Within a few minutes, they went from 'just a random Shadowhunter and a random warlock' to 'oldest son of an influential nephilim bloodline and High Warlock of Brooklyn'. Quite the development.
Knowing that Magnus is on his way, Alec finally puts his phone away again, wiping his face clean of emotions once more and tuning back into his surroundings.
He is still at the back of their little group – it's not like he can't see everything over everyone's head anyway - so thankfully, no one has seen him grinning stupidly at his phone during his brief texted conversation with Magnus. The conversation which still has something fond and light and so very warm pulsing in his chest, as it pretty much always does whenever he spends any amount of time talking to Magnus.
It's a feeling Alec has grown rather - almost embarrassingly - addicted to these days.
Hodge is currently explaining how much Magnus wants the necklace he is holding in his hands. Something about a townhouse in London, the context of which Alec completely misses when his attention is once more drawn away moments later by some sort of commotion coming from the Institute's entrance area.
Raised voices, someone going from sounding surprised to increasingly angry with every new mockingly condescending reply from a voice that Alec has come to know quite well recently. Apparently, Magnus is already here and making life difficult for the Shadowhunters guarding the door.
Then Raj comes striding into the Ops Center, a scowl on his face as he looks around. He quickly focuses on Alec and makes his way over to their group, stopping at the foot of the steps leading up to where they are standing around the safe.
"Alec," Raj says, successfully bringing the attention of their entire group onto himself.
Alec turns towards him slightly, raising an eyebrow questioningly. As though he doesn't already know exactly just who is currently demanding entrance to the Institute to Raj's apparent irritation.
"There is a warlock here to see you? He says his name is Magnus Bane."
There is a surprised noise from Clary, as their entire group immediately flips around to stare at Alec incredulously.
"What?" Jace and Izzy ask at the same time.
Alec just ignores them all and nods calmly at Raj. "I asked him to come. He has permission to enter the Institute."
Raj's scowl only deepens further in what looks like disapproval- Alec also honestly couldn't care less - but after a few seconds he finally turns to once more disappear in the direction of the entrance.
"Alec?" Izzy asks, bringing Alec's attention back to their group.
Turning back towards them, he is met with absolutely incredulous expressions all around.
"You called the High Warlock?" she continues.
He just raises an eyebrow at the group and deadpans, "Your plan to contact Magnus is absolutely ridiculous. We want his help, so I decided to just ask." He doesn't even try to hide just how absolutely unimpressed he is with their plan to get in contact with the High Warlock.
Izzy promptly snorts a laugh at his deadpan reply, not looking offended in the least.
However, Jace is clearly less amused than her. "Since when do you have the High Warlock on speed dial?" his parabatai asks incredulously. A pause. Then, "Wait, 'Magnus'?!"
Alec is saved from having to answer the implied question of how it is that Alec is on first name basis with the High Warlock of their city by Magnus entering the Ops center from the direction of the entrance, flanked by two Shadowhunters.
Magnus immediately spots Alexander across the room, coming towards him from where he had been standing with a small group of Shadowhunters in a slightly raised area. There is a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and Magnus is entirely unable to keep an answering smile from spreading over his face.
"Magnus. Thank you for coming on such short notice," Alexander greets as soon as he comes to a stop in front of him.
Okay, first name basis but still generally formal. That gives Magnus a pretty clear indication of just how Alexander wants to play this. Clearly, the Shadowhunter has no intention of hiding the fact that they do know each other - well enough to call each other by name and also well enough to just ask each other for help - but he clearly also doesn't want to give away that there might be something else developing between them.
Which is actually pretty perfect in Magnus' opinion. Because as much as he might be hoping that their relationship will turn into something more at some, so far they themselves haven't yet defined what they are, much less what they could be. And until they do, everyone else can just keep their curious, opinionated, interfering noses out of it.
So, he just greets warmly in return, "Alexander. Thank you for the invitation." Then, he turns in a half-circle, looking around himself. "It has been a while since I've been here. It really has changed quite a bit."
"You've been in the Institute before?" the blonde Shadowhunter - most likely the infamous Jace - standing to Alexander's right, speaks up, eyeing Magnus rather suspiciously.
"Oh yes, of course." Magnus nods at him, but not deigning to actually offer a reply to the unasked questions of when or how or why he might have been in the Institute before. Shadowhunters are really such a fun lot to mess with. They tend to take themselves far too seriously.
Instead he just fluidly turns to address Clary. "Clarissa Fairchild, you have grown into a beautiful young woman. Last time I saw you, you were about half your current size."
"You mean last time when you stole my memories." Clary sounds so reproachful, so condescending, that Alec honestly just wants to sigh in exasperation. Why would she speak like that to someone who she is planning to ask for help, not to even mention someone who is several centuries her senior and also far more powerful than her? Aren't mundanes taught any manners? Or at least survival instincts?
Magnus however just raises an eyebrow at her, looking entirely unimpressed. "I mean last time, when I removed your memories at your mother's request. She knew the risks."
The reprimand is clear and it has Clary actually drop her eyes, apparently now a little flustered at the reminder that she shouldn't go around blaming random strangers for her mother's actions.
But after a few seconds of silence, Magnus just continues, "I was informed that you are looking to recover the memories that your mother had me remove from your mind."
Clary's head flies up once more. "Yes! They were taken against my will. I have a right to get them back."
Alec barely keeps from rolling his eyes. Magnus is already here, came here when asked for this very reason. There really is no need for the dramatics.
"Hm." Magnus tilts his head, watching this girl who he still remembers from several years ago, her mother fretting at her side, desperate to find the best possible way to protect her child. He still remembers feeling moved by Jocelyn's absolute love for her daughter and that being the reason why he agreed to help her in the first place despite his resolution to keep out of Shadowhunter business. "I see no problem with restoring your memories. However, it is not quite as simple as giving them back to you."
"Those memories belong to Clary," Jace promptly speaks up. "You have no right to keep them from her."
Magnus makes sure not to roll his eyes at Alexander's parabatai. "As I said, I have no problem with returning them. However, and let me repeat, it is not quite that simple." He pauses and then gives a one-shouldered shrug. "I do not actually have the memories at hand."
Izzy tilts her head and asks, "Where are they then?"
She looks thoughtful as she watches Magnus, and Alec can't help but wonder whether she might remember Magnus from Pandemonium now.
"I fed them to a memory demon," Magnus replies, spreading his hands in a fluid gesture – rings glinting in the light - promptly derailing Alec's thoughts for a moment. Seriously, those hands.
"Why would you do that? Those memories are mine!" Clary exclaims, Jace taking a step closer to her.
And finally, Magnus's expression sobers, possibly having enough of all the teenage melodramatics. "For the very simple reason that it was the safest place to keep your memories, somewhere no one, especially not Valentine, would be able to get a hold of them. Not even if he were to capture me and try to torture them out of me."
There is silence.
Alec looks around their little group. Everyone is clearly uncertain how to react to this reminder that this is in fact much more than just a simple case of removed memories, that it might actually be a good idea to have more than just one or two levels of security in place in this case.
And where better to hide something from Valentine than in the one realm he cannot reach. Even if Valentine were to somehow figure out which particular demon has Clary's memories, which demon to call upon, he would still need the help of a powerful warlock for the actual summoning. And considering that Valentine is currently doing his best to eradicate their entire species, it seems quite unlikely that any of them would be willing to help him. Hiding the memories in hell is actually kind of genius. Multi-layered security. Alec definitely approves.
So, he decides to speak up, hoping to speed things along without giving anyone a chance to go off on yet another tangent about things owed and the unfairness of not getting exactly what they want when they want it.
"How do we get them back then?" Alec asks firmly.
At Alexander's question, Magnus immediately turns towards his lovely Shadowhunter, a slight smile on his lips once more. "I will simply have to summon the demon I fed the memories to."
Magnus is entirely happy to fully focus on Alexander. He might also be a little turned on by seeing how the entire room seems to come a little more to attention the moment Alexander decides to speak. Even the Shadowhunters who are scattered around the room and not involved in their little discussion at all, still seem to sit up a little, straightening their spines, everyone immediately reacting to the sound of Alexander's voice.
Suddenly, it's absolutely clear just who is actually in charge here, whose command these Shadowhunters would follow in case of an emergency, who they would listen to if they were truly pressed. Alexander is their leader. Alexander who doesn't speak up until he actually has something to say, who observes and watches and assesses until he has all the information and then makes a decision, which everyone here will then do their best to implement, without question or compromise.
It's the sort of leadership that is born from respect, the sign of a true leader. And it's also something that Magnus finds endlessly attractive.
His thoughts are interrupted by Isabelle tilting her head slightly, asking doubtfully, "Just summon the demon? That's all?"
Magnus replies to Isabelle's question even without actually looking away from his lovely Shadowhunter. "Well, I wouldn't quite put it like that," he says. "The ritual itself requires a lot of power and concentration and four of you would have to join me to keep it stable. But in essence, I will summon the demon, we will pay its price and then the memories will be returned to Clarissa."
He is still looking at Alexander, who finally throws a quick glance in his direction but then just as quickly glances away again, clearly a little flustered by whatever he sees written on Magnus' face. So adorable.
"What price?" Jace interjects promptly.
"I couldn't say." Finally, Magnus deigns to look away from Alexander, shrugging fluidly. "This will just be a standard summoning ritual, even if the demon I will be calling upon is quite a bit more powerful than most. But as always, it will be up to the demon to name the actual price and once the ritual has started it cannot be interrupted. Anyone who agrees to join has to be willing to pay whatever price is asked."
Which of course leads to an argument between the Shadowhunters of whether they are willing to pay an unknown price or not.
Magnus tries to keep his exasperation off his face at the entirely obsolete discussion. Either they want the memories and pay the price or they don't. Everyone here should already know that demons always have a price. You want them to do something for you, you will have to give them something at least just as valuable in return. It's just a fact. No use in arguing about it.
It still takes the them some time to get to that inevitable conclusion. Which is then promptly followed by yet another discussion when everyone realizes that they will have to leave the Institute for the actual summoning.
Although, even without the excuse of the Institute's wards hindering the summoning of such a powerful demon, Magnus would insist on performing the ritual at his place. Hodge Starkweather's presence - someone he remembers quite well and quite darkly from the Circle's most zealous days – is already making his magic rather twitchy, so there is simply no way that Magnus will even consider performing the ritual here.
And if he is about to summon a demon at the loft, then Magnus needs to get some fire messages out to his warlocks about today's get-together at the Lair being cancelled. Because with his magic focused elsewhere on containing the demon, the wards around the Lair – which is really just his apartment with a different setup, shifted to another location for whenever New York's warlocks get together for their regular gatherings under Magnus' wards - will be weakened. And Valentine has been waiting for a chance to take out the warlocks who regularly gather under Magnus' protection for a long, long time.
So, Magnus wants to get out of here to let his warlock know about the summoning and the cancelled get-together even before any of them start portalling in.
Thus, when the group finally - and unsurprisingly - makes up their mind that they do in fact want to go through with the summoning, Magnus immediately starts herding everyone outside. On the way out, he sees Alexander grab something from Starkweather, but he is far too concerned with getting everyone's asses into gear to ask about it right now. He might be a little more pushy than absolutely necessary due to his need to get out of the presence of any 'former' Circle members.
A quick portal trip later and their group of five arrives in the main ritual room of his apartment.
Magnus immediately disappears into his living quarters under the pretense of getting his chalks and the scroll depicting the ritual circle. Then he promptly proceeds to shoot off a collection of fire messages to NYC's warlocks to let them know about today's get-together being cancelled.
Only once that is done - reassured in the knowledge that his warlocks will likely not be leaving their individual, fortified hideouts tonight while Magnus is occupied - he finally feels himself relax slightly.
So, he pulls on his glittery I'm-friends-to-all-people smile, grabs his set of chalks and then finally returns to the ritual room, where the Shadowhunters are waiting for him. It really is a rather colorful group.
The lovely Isabelle, who is looking around herself interestedly, trying to see more of Magnus' apartment beyond the doors of the ritual room without actually going to poke around. Jace, who is clearly torn between his focus on Clarissa and distrustfully keeping Magnus in his sight. Clarissa, who is so very clearly taking her cues from the others while also trying to appear in control, wearing her bravado like a shield but floundering like a fish out of water in a world she knows nothing about.
And Alexander who keeps watch over all of them, his face almost impassive. Although, as soon as he spots Magnus a slightly worried, questioning frown forms on his face, apparently – and rather surprisingly – having been able to tell that something had been worrying Magnus before.
And Magnus is entirely helpless against the warm smile that spreads over his face at the thought that Alexander might actually be worried for him. It only widens when Alexander's frown clears almost immediately in response to Magnus' own smile, replaced by that endearing, quirked smile of his.
By magic, Magnus is so very, absolutely, helplessly gone on this one.
xxx
The summoning goes off without a hitch, despite how much of a struggle it turns out to be for Alec.
A struggle, not only because they all have to give up a memory of the one they love most in exchange for Clary's memories. Alec isn't surprised in the least when his own memory turns out to be one of Jace - although in all honesty it could just as well have been a memory of Izzy - but he still has to actively push down that ingrained, panicked need to protest, to deny everything, almost automatic after so many years of trying to hide his maybe-or-maybe-not attraction to his brother.
But in the end, he has so very recently gotten past this particular hang-up - thank you, Magnus – and then he is honestly too busy feeling touched at seeing both Izzy and Jace give up a memory of him.
So, he manages to bite down on that reflex urging him to protest and instead keeps hold of Magnus and Jace's hands.
Which is also a struggle for an entirely different reason, because it turns out that Alec finds Magnus' show of absolute power - easily keeping such a powerful demon contained, no matter how much it clearly tries to push past the established boundary keeping it in place - incredibly, breathtakingly attractive. Which is a revelation he most certainly wasn't expecting.
But finally - with a last push against the summoning circle's boundaries held up by Magnus' magic - the demon withdraws. And suddenly Clary has her memories back.
Only for her to promptly collapse where she stands.
Jace immediately jumps forward to catch her, gathering her into his arms, trying to shake her awake. She doesn't so much as stir and Jace asks urgently, "What happened? Is she okay?"
Magnus glances his way, sounding entirely unbothered as he replies, "She is fine. Her mind just needs some rest to catch up with recovering a chunk of her childhood memories. She'll likely sleep for at least twelve hours and it would be best to just leave her entirely undisturbed during that time. Once she wakes up she should be right as rain once more."
Jace frowns, only glancing up briefly before looking back at the girl in his arms. "Are you sure? Maybe the demon did something."
"I can assure you, I had the demon fully contained. This isn't my first rodeo," Magnus replies with a rather mockingly raised eyebrow. "Of course, you all did a wonderful job of holding each other's hands as well."
And because Izzy is Izzy, she can't just let a remark like that slide. "Thank you," she quips with a smirk. "I rather thought so myself."
Magnus just grins at her, clearly delighted. Finally, he moves across the room to pick up the chalks still lying off to the side and remarks easily, "You really got a great team here, my dear pretty boy."
Immediately, Alec feels his lips quirk in a grin, as always slightly bashful at the endearment. I'll get over this reaction of blushing every time Magnus says something at some point, right?
But then Jace unexpectedly decides to join in on the banter, apparently assuming that Magnus must have been talking to him.
"I know I do," his parabatai says, looking up from Clary with a cocky smirk.
There is a second of silence and then Magnus just laughs, patronizingly patting Jace on the shoulder as he passes behind him on his way into the living room.
"Oh honey, I'm not talking to you," he smirks over his shoulder, right before disappearing through the door.
The cocky expression slowly drops off Jace's face as he looks after the warlock confusedly, a few seconds of silence, and then both Izzy and Jace simultaneously swing their heads towards Alec to stare at him rather incredulously.
Alec doesn't bother wiping his expression clean, just raises his eyebrows at them in a clear question of what they could possibly want from him.
It's not his fault they are apparently completely baffled at the mere idea that someone might call Alec pretty. Shows what they know.
A/N: Okay. So, this chapter somehow ended up as pure character development for Alec to get him to that I-like-Magnus-so-everyone-can-just-deal mindset of his future canon self. But there is much less actual Malec interaction in this than I had planned... I also tried to make the whole Lair thing actually make sense while also fixing the attack itself (no randomly killing off numerous warlocks despite how much that would weigh on Magnus, just so that the Shadowhunters can save the day) and this is what I came up with :D
And I hope the rather frequent POV changes weren't too confusing! Would really love to know what you think :)
Also, it's weirdly exhausting to write Clary and Jace while they are still stuck in their entirely-blind-to-anything-and-anyone-else phase, so I'm hoping to maybe fix that a little earlier... Well, next chapter should be pretty much purely Malec at least, 'cause I'm planning to send them on a date :D
And thank you so much for your reviews! You guys are wonderful (*^^*)