Alec knew he was in love with Magnus, it was the one thing he'd known for awhile now, and still he didn't know how to handle it. He couldn't believe he'd never seen it before, and regretted all the times before he said 'I love you'. Magnus deserved all the best, at least a far as Alec was concerned. He was giving and pure and good and wonderful- but Alec was bias. He knew very well that Magnus was naturally a difficult person to get along with, his personality was unique and blunt, he didn't lie. Some people couldn't handle that, so it made people stray from him. Not only was he blunt, but he was also hyper-active, he adored parties and dragging Alec into crazy stunts that Alec normally would be too cautious to attempt. It reminded Alec of a fond memory.

Magnus came up behind Alec, wrapping his arms tightly around the Shadowhunters waist, Alec knew before he even spoke that Magnus was going to offer something dumb. Something risky that could end badly, because that was the kind of man Magnus was. "Let's break into the zoo and set the lions free." He offered, his voice obviously serious. Just the suggestion made Alec laugh, Magnus always was doing things ridiculous but this was just plain weird. "What?!" Alec asked through the laughter, turning to look upon his significant others face. "I'm not joking. We should, the zoo thinks they're SO cool. We'll show them when we let loose their lions just how cool they ACTUALLY are." Alec leaned forward, pressing a deep and meaningful kiss upon Magnus's lips, one that easily persuaded him from the topic, one that Magnus couldn't break free of. Not that Alec could either, but he was certain he had a better chance than his cat-eyed boyfriend. Reaching up a marked hand, he gently caresses Magnus's hair, slowly pulling away from the male. "You're weird, you know that right?"

Magnus, completely forgetting about his idea, shrugged. "I think I'm more enthusiastic." He said, eyes watching Alec with mild interest. Alec leaned forward again, kissing Magnus once more- this time with more passion, his mind burning a blinding white as Magnus accepted and returned the kiss with equal ferocity. Magnus's arms wrapped tightly around Alec in a way that left Alec dizzy with appreciation for Magnus's light muscular build. Then he pulled back, Alec whimpering slightly from the loss of warmth. "Magnus!"

"Shh. I'll be at the zoo." Magnus gave Alec another quick peck before vanishing into thin air. Alec didn't believe that Magnus would actually break out lions, but then again Alec was too dizzy to focus.

Alec grinned at the thought, standing up and leaving the institute. Magnus actually had broken out the lions, and Alec was forced to assist in retrieving them, but he oddly wasn't upset. He was shocked to see Magnus complete such a task, but not angry or irritated at all. His feet moved without him really knowing. He was supposed to meet Izzy for coffee, but he felt so light like he was floating. That was an effect only Magnus had on him, it was irritating but Alec enjoyed it. Magnus made all the worst things fun.

Alec was always the one to listen to everybody and anybody's problems. He didn't mind doing that for others, expect Isabelle, her problems always bored Alec out, same with Clary. Maybe it was something universal that made all women's stories boring. Alec shrugged away the thought and instead focused on what's most important: the stunning cat-eyed man sitting beside him. Magnus usually ranted, it was typical for him, and Alec loved it.

He loved to witness the passion ablaze behind his green speckled eyes as he went on and on about something, or how Magnus would always use his hands more to express the severity or insignificance of the issue. He liked to watch Magnus angrily flick aside hair, or chew on his bottom lip in momentary contemplation. All of these small habits became everything to Alec, on some days the young Shadowhunter would HOPE that Magnus was upset that day. Sometimes he'd drop everything just to hear Magnus speak like this. Today he was ranting about the store running out of glitter. Occasionally Alec would fully tune on and hear words like 'stupid' and 'mundanes' in the same sentence; once he heard 'Seymour' and instantly knew he'd meant Simon so he HAD to listen. It turned out Magnus was just complaining how it was probably a conspiracy set up by 'Seymour' himself to rid the world forever of glitter, Alec highly doubted this belief.

Magnus didn't look directly at Alec when ranting, Alec dully noted, his eyes slowly raking over every little thing about him once more. Alec knew Magnus could feel his stare, but wouldn't return it either. Alec knew why too, whenever Magnus ranted he had already planned out what he was going to say before he ever ran into Alec that day, Magnus wanted to get through everything planned before meeting Alec's intense stare. If he looked before he finished he'd drown in Alec's eyes, he would fall silent and stare back unconsciously moving closer to the Shadowhunter boy. Alec took Magnus's breath away, and even though he had visual proof, Alec still didn't believe that was true.

This time, Alec couldn't care less about the glitter and Simon exacting revenge under Raphael's orders or something like that, today Alec just wanted Magnus to make the eye-contact. But it seemed today Magnus was more set on NOT making eye contact. He did everything within his power to not look at Alec, and Alec was made furious by this. Out of a sheer burst of boldness, Alec gripped Magnus's chin, turned him to face himself, and then pressed his lips firmly against his, efficiently silencing Magnus and gaining what he'd most desired for awhile- a single kiss.

Alec shuffled soundlessly along the concrete, eyes closing as he allowed his body to move itself slowly. Concrete, it reminded Alec of Magnus- then again what didn't though- mainly because Magnus was as solid with few cracks. Alec could always depend on Magnus, even through the hardest of times. Like after losing Max, Alec couldn't find it in himself to stick around the Institute. The misery was thick and suffocating, and Alec didn't know how to handle or fix the situation. It wasn't like he'd ever gotten over the situation himself either.

Alec couldn't find any refuge at the Institute, he just couldn't find it in him to stay there any longer. Ever since the death of max, everyone's been acting different, even Clary had began to take an even softer side. Therefore Alec found it best to just leave. There wasn't any familiarity there, but Alec had someplace that WAS familiar. Someplace that made him have to catch his breath each time he went. Picking up pace through the crowded streets, he hops onto the subway train, catching his stop before jogging the rest of the way to Magnus's apartment. He could remember clearly how many steps it would take and what buildings he'd pass to get there. His feet basically transported him there without any thought anymore. Coming to the building, he jams his thumb into the buzzer, Magnus answering almost instantly. "WHO DARE DISTURB THE HIGH WARLOCK AT WORK?"

He yelled through the microphone as his usual way of greeting anybody. "Uh it's me, Alec." The gate unlocked instantly and Alec didn't hesitate this time to push inside. Alec knew this building just as well. He knew how many steps until he'd reach the top, twenty-four, and knew which steps were the least stable- the first, fifteenth, and the final three- and he knew where the banister on the side creaked the loudest, in between the fourteenth and twelfth steps. Alec was accustomed to it all by now, it was all second nature, but today he didn't find pride in knowing that. Just a distanced sense of familiarity that he'd been craving. Before he could knock on the door it swung open, Magnus standing before him with his usual indifferent smirk. Alec felt his breath flee and mouth dry at the sight of him; he was dressed with a form-fitting black shirt that did wonders for his biceps and plain black jeans along with buckle up combat boots, even his hair was typical and normal, the only thing that stood out was the excessive silver glitter lining his eyeliner colored eyes and all over his arms and chest. "What's wrong?" Magnus asked before stepping aside to allow Alec entry.

After catching his breath Alec moved go the center of Magnus's living room, his eyes closing as he stiffened, covering his face as he weakened. Life had been immeasurably different since the battle at Alicinate, it had left everyone a broken mess and Alec couldn't find any familiarity at the Institute, since Max was gone now... "Alec?" He heard Magnus inquiry worriedly as he wrapped his arms gently around Alec's waist from behind, pulling him firmly against Magnus's muscular body, his black painted fingers massaging into Alec's abdomen gently. Magnus placed gentle kisses along Alec's throat, a noise of despair bubbling up his throat. "I'm sorry." Alec croaked out, turning to bury his face in Magnus's chest, his hands balling into fists as he pressed them firmly into the black fabric of Magnus' shirt. He felt his knees give out and Magnus gently slid to the floor with him, holding him closely. Alec grit his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut as he forced and willed himself not to cry, he knew Magnus wouldn't ever judge him, but he had to drop it at some point.

Magnus brushed his fingers through Alec's hair, his lips pressing meaningful kisses to his scalp. "It's alright Alexander. I know. Its okay." Alec shook his head, body shaking from the willpower used to keep from sobbing into him. "No Magnus it's NOT. I should've prevented it." Magnus shook his head, pulling Alec back to stare him dead in the eyes, his gaze affectionate yet stern. "No Alec, you aren't responsible. It's not your fault, nothing that happened was. Nobody could've planned this. You have to let it all go Alexander." And he did, he broke into a sob, Magnus drawing him in closer. Rocking him back and forth slowly, Magnus closes his eyes, doing his best to soothe the pain away from Alec. Alec felt the tears abruptly cease, his eyes wide as he clung tightly against Magnus. This was nice, just being here against Magnus, knowing that Magnus wouldn't shove him away or force him to leave, he felt safe in Magnus's arms, and rarely did Alec feel safe. "Better?" Magnus asked, kissing Alec softly. Alec nodded, pulling back from the kiss to look up into Magnus's eyes, and just then in that one moment; all his pains, and his worries, all his dreads, and all his paranoia and hysteria just seemed to vanish. "Better." Alec promised breathlessly.

Alec felt his throat constrict at the memory. Magnus wasn't just a typical boyfriend he was...- a Magnus, and that was rare to come by. Alec finally opened his eyes fully, he wasn't headed to the coffee shop, he was absent-mindedly walking to Magnus' loft. At the thought he picked up pace, sure Isabelle would be furious that he'd ditched her to go see Magnus, but part of her had to know he'd most likely bail. Alec loved his sister dearly, but he never passed up an opportunity to see Magnus. Vibrantly he buzzes the buzzer.

"WHO DARES-"

"It's Alec, just open up already!"

Alec could've sworn he heard laughter on the other end of the microphone as the doors swung open. Instead of it unlocking, Magnus had hurried down the stairs to greet him. Through the unspoken eye-contact they shared, both knew what the other felt. Magnus missed Alec just as much as Alec was missing Magnus. Though truthfully Alec doubted that Magnus had been busying himself to remembering fond memories of Alec, no, that was something probably only he did.

The seconds ticked by until Magnus deemed he could bear no more, approaching Alec he wordlessly sweeps him up into his grasp and kisses him. He kisses him with all he has, all he can promise, and all he could fulfill. With every bit of love and passion with burning fire and pain, everything and anything Magnus had ever felt for Alec was shoved into that kiss, and Alec felt it fiercely as he returned with just as much emotion. Magnus was sturdy, he was here for Alec, even if Alec wasn't always there for Magnus. Alec loved Magnus, he loved him with everything and more than anything. The two pulled back gasping to shove air back into their lungs. " Alec? Why the sudden appearance? Not that I'm not all for random make-out sessions but..."

"I missed you." Alec concluded, not feeling too keen on going into details. On informing Magnus that all day he'd thought of him, of fond memories, and soon that developed into a complex yearning of ridding the loss he felt whenever Magnus wasn't around. Magnus just smiled, as if he already knew. "Come on, it's cold outside." Magnus shrugged an arm around Alec's shoulders before he guided him into the complex. Alec intertwined their fingers. "I love you." He murmured breathlessly through an intoxicating smile.

Magnus returned the smile, unable to hide his mirth. "I love you too Alexander."