Jagnus || Shadowhunters || Jagnus || And They Were Roommates || Jagnus || Shadowhunters || Jagnus
Title: And They Were Roommates – And They Were Alpha and Omega Too!
Fandom: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments
Disclaimer: All rights to the Shadowhunters show reserved to Ed Decter, the books the show is based off and its characters belong to Cassandra Clare. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, wingfic, grooming, alpha/beta/omega dynamics, shapeshifters, nesting, heat, fluff, hurt/comfort, past abuse, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, knotting, f/f, m/f
Main Pairing: Magnus/Jace
Side Pairings: Alec/Andrew, Helen/Aline, Raphael/Isabelle, Simon/Clary, Luke/Catarina
Shadowhunters Characters: Jonathan 'Jace' Herondale, Magnus Bane, Isabelle Lightwood, Maxwell Lightwood, Alexander 'Alec' Lightwood, Clarissa 'Clary' Fray, Simon Lewis, Raphael Santiago, Luke Garroway, Catarina Loss, Madzie Loss, Andrew Underhill, Aline Penhallow, Helen Blackthorn, Imogen Herondale, Sebastian Verlac | Jonathan Morgenstern
Summary: When Magnus opened his home to Jace, he hadn't realized the Shadowhunter was an omega. An unmated omega, at that. Now, he had to adjust to having the omega in his space and slowly, over the course of living together, they grow closer.
And They Were Roommates
And They Were Alpha and Omega Too!
Chapter 5: And He Was Nesting
The first few days after he had returned to the loft, it was tough. Jace flinched when Magnus spoke up or touched him without a warning. So Magnus was careful, announcing his presence and waiting for Jace to touch him. Therapy actually... helped him, he supposed. He'd only been going for two weeks now and there was a lot of trauma to work through, but Magnus had never actually talked about the things that burdened him so even a little bit, it already gave him a lot. And it helped him deal with Jace; his therapist had given him advise on letting Jace come to him. And it had worked.
Things were more complicated than that though. A few days ago, Jace and Magnus had gone to trail Alec on his first date. Honestly, Magnus had meant to just check in from afar, Jace on the other hand had meant to tease his parabatai. Instead, Alexander got retaliation by turning it into a double-date. Though Alec's new little boyfriend helped out with that too. Magnus had to admit, he liked Andrew Underhill. He seemed like a good man and he knew how to tease Alec's parabatai back, something that was definitely needed. Cheeky little blonde.
"I... think I love him," whispered Magnus softly, turning a stuffed bear over.
"It's okay, I love him too. His name is Fluffles," offered Madzie with a smile.
Magnus offered a small smile of his own, hugging Fluffles close. He was sitting on the floor in Catarina's apartment, playing with little Madzie. He adored the child, she was precious. That Cat, of all warlocks, had taken her in pleased Magnus. That way, he could play the fun uncle.
"I don't think uncle Magnus is talking about Fluffles," noted Luke curiously.
He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching Magnus and Madzie. The little girl blinked a few times, looking confused. Magnus heaved a sigh and got up to walk over toward Luke. The other alpha smiled at him, resting a hand on Magnus' shoulder for a moment.
"Hey, kiddo. You wanna do a puzzle together?" asked Luke as he sat down.
While Luke was now keeping Madzie busy, Magnus headed out toward Catarina in the kitchen. She was reading a book, a glass of wine standing untouched next to her. With a sigh did Magnus sink onto the chair right next to her. Without looking up, Cat pushed her glass over toward Magnus.
"No. I'm cutting back on it," muttered Magnus with a pout. "I have been told I might be using alcohol to cope with recent... everything... so I'm trying to drink... less."
At that, Catarina actually looked up, offering him a small smile. "I'm proud of you. And... who made you aware of this, Magnus? Your new therapist?"
"...Jace, even before that," muttered Magnus softly, averting his eyes.
"You're blushing. That's new," Catarina leaned back on her chair.
"I... It has come to my attention that I might... be in love with Jace," admitted Magnus flustered. "It should have... I didn't see it. But the more time I spend with him... He's the omega for me."
"Good on you, for finally piecing that together too," Catarina chuckled lightly. "Luke and I have put two and two together a while ago, Magnus. I know you were... badly hurt before and I know you've tried not to risk your heart. So you ignored your feelings. But... you deserve to be happy, Magnus. And you seem very happy ever since Jace had moved in."
"I'm afraid," admitted Magnus after a beat. "I can't get my heart broken again, Catarina."
"I know," she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight, soothing hug, kissing the top of his head. "But is this a life, Magnus? You have so much love to give, you can not isolate yourself for the rest of your life. You deserve to be happy. If he makes you happy, would it not be worth the risk of trying to talk to him about this? Trying to... be a couple?"
Magnus heaved a sigh and leaned heavily against her. Was it? He couldn't tell anymore. He was so lost in all of this, in his own feelings. After all, he hadn't meant to get attached. After taking a deep breath, Magnus sat up straighter and nodded slowly. Yes, at the very least, he should be honest with Jace and have an open conversation with him about their feelings.
"Okay. Okay, I'm going to talk to him," declared Magnus seriously and got up. "Thank you, Cat."
After kissing her cheek, he opened a portal to the loft, with the goal of talking to Jace. As soon as he stepped through the portal, he realized that this was not the day. The first he saw were Alec and Simon, When Simon turned a little, Magnus realized the vampire was holding his own omega, Clary leaning against him heavily. She looked so upset and stressed, he was running his fingers through her hair, holding her close and safe. Alec looked frantic, so on edge.
"Alexander, what's going on?" asked Magnus concerned. "Where's Jace?"
Before he could walk past Alec, the beta grasped his arm and stopped him. "Jace is in his room. He... Magnus, sit down? Before you go talk to him."
With a deep frown did Magnus sit down, his eyes on Clary, but his ears on Alec. "What is it?"
"Valentine... escaped, when he was transported to Idris," started Alec tensely.
"And Clary and Jace went after him! Without thinking anything through!" Simon sounded stressed.
"I'm sorry," Clary sighed, leaning into her alpha. "I know I should have waited for you and Alec, or Izzy, or any backup at all. But I just... he escaped and I could create a portal rune and..."
"I'm sorry, you created a portal rune?" asked Magnus stunned. "And you just... used an untested rune, going through what I assume to be an unstable portal? Do you know how dangerous-"
"You sound like a dad," muttered Clary softly, smiling just a little. "I'm sorry. I know I didn't think that through. I know we... I acted irrationally. I just... He had escaped and... So Jace and I, we went to Idris together. We tried to find him, but we... didn't."
"They went to the old cabin, where Jace was raised," Alec's voice dropped to a soft whisper. "It's the first time he went back to his... ever since Michael died. Since Valentine faked his death."
The frown on Magnus' face deepened as he covered his mouth with one hand. That must have been very re-traumatizing for Jace, to be back in the home of his childhood abuse, where he saw his father be murdered – even if it turned out to be a faked death after all, the memory of it, the experience of it, had been very real and very traumatizing.
"We... found these," whispered Clary, offering Magnus a huge book. "Many of these."
Before Magnus could open it, Alec held a firm hand down on the cover. "You'll need a drink for that. I don't think it's a good idea to... look at them now. These journals, they... document Valentine's experiments. His abuse of Jace and... of Clary's brother. They're very... detailed."
Magnus swallowed hard at that, slowly removing his hand from it. No, if he were to read that now, he would not be able to talk to Jace, not in a stable, comforting manner anyway. Closing his eyes, Magnus took another deep breath and then got up.
"Why are you out here, Alexander? And not with him?" asked Magnus.
"I was, but... He's in his nest. And he's really upset. I just... I've tried to comfort him, but he's... I thought I'd give him a little space before I'd go back. Give him time to digest it. Maybe you could... go and check in on him instead?"
As Magnus walked out of the room, he nodded slowly. That Alexander trusted him to check on Jace like that felt quite big to him. Like a sign of approval from Jace's parabatai and all the more reason why Magnus should talk to Jace about their potential. Later. Not right now. For now, he had to check in on Jace and hope the blonde was okay. Gently, he knocked on the door.
"I told you I'm fine, Alec," Jace growled softly. "You fussed enough."
"I'm not Alexander," offered Magnus. "Can I fuss for a while?"
Magnus actually held his breath as he waited for the answer. "...Okay. Come in..."
Breathing in deeply, he opened the door and walked in. Though he didn't see Jace anywhere. Wait, Alexander had said Jace was in his nest... Magnus hadn't been aware the omega had a nest here. Another thing that made Magnus feel very warm. The amount of trust for Jace to build his nest here, in Magnus' territory...? Curiously, he wandered the room.
"Trouble...? Where are you?" asked Magnus after a moment.
"In here. Don't come in," a warning growl followed.
Ah. The walk-in closet. That... made a lot of sense for a nest. Big enough, shielded, privacy. Smiling to himself, Magnus walked over to the closet and then sat down in front of the door.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't enter an omega's nest uninvited," assured Magnus. "How... are you doing, sweetheart? Alexander told me what... what you guys have been up to..."
"How am I doing?" Jace snorted incredulously. "Just peachy, Mag. You know, it was one thing when I thought Valentine stole me to replace his dead son, but to know that Jonathan was still alive and Valentine kept us both and gave me the same name still, just... two lab-rats for his experiments. I was never a son to him, in... in no way. It's stupid, I know. I know he never... loved... me. But part of me, I still thought I was... I thought he saw me as his son, even if I was a disappointment. But I truly was just a guinea pig for him... He... documented it all. Everything he did to me and to his real son. And it's not just that. Being back there... I..."
Magnus closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the door. "I've been seeing a therapist, you know. About the... body-switch... and... honestly, quite some other issues."
There was a moment of silence, where Magnus guessed that Jace was trying to figure out what to say. "That's... good. So that's where you've been disappearing to two, three times a week? When you got all... secretive and weird. I thought... you were seeing someone... romantically."
Oh. Well, looking at it like that, Magnus could see why he'd interpret it that way.
"No. No, I'm single," clarified Magnus after a beat. "I... think that therapy is actually helping me, even if I haven't been going for long. Do you think... I think that it could help you too, Jace."
"...You really think so?" Jace's voice was soft and hopeful.
"I think that it won't hurt to try, sweetheart," Magnus leaned against the door. "I think that you are handling too much for one person and that you need help to carry it all."
Silence stretched on between them for a while. "Are... Are you still there, Magnus?"
"I don't plan on leaving until you tell me to," promised Magnus. "If that is alright."
"Yes," Jace sounded genuinely relieved. "Thank you."
/break\
The Institute had gotten reinforcement. About time, really. Despite himself, Jace grinned a little as he watched Aline and Izzy hug. The two used to hook up when they had all been teenagers, she used to be a friend, the times she'd visit New York. Jace was mostly eager to have another omega around. He walked over to the two girls and as he got closer, spotted Aline's cousin.
Sebastian Verlac. He'd been with the New York Institute for a few weeks now. Honestly, Jace didn't know what to make of him. Something about the blonde seemed off, but Jace was grateful to him for helping Izzy out when the two had first met. Other times, Sebastian seemed... flirty with Jace.
"Jace. It's good to see you, you haven't been around the Institute in a few days," Sebastian smiled.
"Yeah, I... was working through some... clues, alone," Jace shrugged, averting his eyes.
He'd holed up at the loft, reading through the journals, thinking they could hold a clue. Sebastian looked curious, like he wanted to pry, but Isabelle distracted him, a smile on her face.
"Why don't we let the omegas bond? I think we're late for our mission debriefing with Alec."
"Right, right," Sebastian seemed displeased about that, though he followed.
"He's... behaving weird," noted Aline as she hugged Jace. "Don't tell me that's because of you."
"What. Why would that be because of me?" Jace huffed as he led Aline to the training room.
"I don't know. He's an unmated alpha, you're an unmated omega, he perked up when you approached..." Aline shrugged as she picked a staff. "There anything you want to share?"
Somehow, the thought that people would perceive him and Sebastian as a potential couple, like that was just wrong because Jace belonged with a different alpha. His alpha. Frowning, Jace grabbed a staff of his own and then came to face Aline. Omega bonding. It was important, for the omegas in a flock to bond, and Jace was happy to welcome her to the flock. Rolling his shoulders, Jace unglamoured his wings, stretching them wide. Aline smirked and also showed her dark wings – magpie wings. The two circled each other before taking to the sky and attacking one another.
/break\
After his sparring session with Aline, Jace found his way to Alec's bedroom, walking in without knocking, because he had never knocked when it came to his parabatai. For the first time, he found himself regretting that. A yelp came from the bed and then Andrew Underhill was scrambling off Alec, wrapping the sheets around his bare chest in embarrassment. After a moment, Jace rolled his eyes, because he saw that Andrew wasn't even naked, he was still wearing his pants.
"Calm down, Underhill," Jace huffed. "Not the first bare torso I've ever seen."
"The first bare torso of my boyfriend though," commented Alec as he handed Andrew his shirt.
"Well, maybe you guys should lock the door before getting down and dirty," advised Jace. "So—o, you very busy, Alec? Because I thought we could groom before I head back home..."
Andrew heaved a sigh and got up with a small, understanding smile. He leaned over to kiss Alec.
"I'll see you later, darling, okay? Come by my room when he leaves."
"What? No, you don't have to go, I can kick him out-" argued Alec with a pout.
Though his boyfriend simply chuckled. "I know you well enough not to ask you to chose between me and your parabatai. It's okay. We can continue this later, mh."
He nosed Alec's cheek before leaving, waving at Jace, who grinned and waved back. "You know what, I like him for you. He's a great choice. He understands you perfectly."
Alec huffed and rolled his eyes, though he unglamoured his wings and sat up cross-legged on his bed, motioning for Jace to join him. Something the blonde gladly did. He spread his wings for his parabatai and they started to groom each other's wings, gently sorting through feathers.
"I... went to..." Jace paused his words though not his movement. "I went to see a doctor."
"What? Were you injured? Are you alright?" Alec immediately tensed up.
"No. Not... physically. A doctor for... the stuff that's been happening," Jace tipped his temples. "Mag recommended it. I only went once and... I dunno. It's weird. Talking about these things."
His parabatai looked at him in surprise, but he also looked proud. "I'm... glad you're getting help."
All Jace did was nod sharply. He took one of Alec's loose feathers to turn it in his hand. "I... I'm really glad I live with him. I don't know if I could... be here anymore. Here doesn't feel like home anymore. The... The loft does. And Magnus has been... such a huge help. Not just in the war."
"I know," whispered Alec gently. "He's done a lot for you."
"Yeah. I... don't know what I did to deserve that," admitted Jace, not looking at Alec.
"Jace," Alec's voice was firm as he grasped Jace's face. "Look at me. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be taken care of too. You deserve to be treated well."
"Right. Yeah," Jace couldn't even pretend to sound convincing.
Heaving a sigh, Alec gathered the loose feathers. "At least try and let him have a say in that too."
"What does that even mean?" Jace side-eyed him in confusion.
"You think you don't deserve love, Jace. But let Magnus decide for himself if he thinks you're worth loving," clarified Alec, staring Jace down. "You let him help so far. Give him a chance."
"Magnus doesn't love me," argued Jace disturbed, huffing.
Alec gave him a pointed glare, though he at least didn't argue with Jace any further. Jace tried to ignore him, instead grabbing the feathers. He needed those for his nest, because his heat was coming up. That was why he had started a nest in his room a week ago, preparing for his heat.
/break\
Magnus frowned annoyed as he went through his closet for the fifth time. The entire content was already emptied onto his bed as the first two times of going through it hadn't brought any results. He was missing clothes. His favorite clothes, to be more accurate. When he hadn't been able to find his favorite outfit, he guessed it might be in the wash, so he went for his second favorite, which was also missing. But it was time. Jace had been to therapy for the first time, he had left his room again for the first time after finding the journals. Now or never. He was going to invite Jace to a fancy dinner on the balcony. Privacy, the stars, good food, and then he was going to confess. For that, he needed to look impeccable. Which wasn't possible if all his best clothes were just gone.
"Trouble!" Magnus knocked on Jace's door before entering. "Have you by any chance seen... half my closet? Did you do laundry without telling me or something...? Trouble? Jace?"
"Nest," called Jace out from the closet.
The closet door actually stood open this time so when Magnus approached, he could even see it. There was a mattress laid out as the base and on top of it, pillows, blankets, feathers and... clothes. Furrowing his brows, Magnus tilts his head as he saw the very vest he had been looking for.
"Don't look," Jace growled frustrated. "It's not ready yet. It's not good enough yet. It-"
"It's perfect," assured Magnus gently as he backed up a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I wasn't... aware you were... actively nesting. Do you need anything?"
Slowly, Jace turned toward him and regarded him. The omega got up and walked over to him and, much to Magnus' surprise, took the piece of clothing that Magnus was currently holding – he hadn't put it down before coming here, he had just interrupted himself in the middle of searching. Jace sniffed it briefly before nodding pleased and returning to his nest.
"Yes. Bring more," requested Jace as he found the perfect spot for the hoodie.
"Bring... more?" echoed Magnus confused. "More what? More of my... clothes?"
"Yes," Jace tucked it properly in, smoothing it out. "Doesn't... smell right yet. It's not enough."
Magnus blinked dazed as he walked out of the room to get as many of his own clothes as he could carry, because his omega's nest didn't smell enough like Magnus yet. That sure was one way to have that conversation. Jace wanted his nest to smell like Magnus.
"Here you go, sweetheart. Where... Where do you want me to put them?"
For a long moment, Jace stared at him, before the blonde scooted aside. "Come here."
"I... Inside... Into your nest?" asked Magnus stunned.
It was very unorthodox for an omega to invite anyone aside from their mate into their nest. Magnus' heart was hammering in his chest at the profound sign of trust and love that Jace showed him, though he wasn't sure if Jace even knew just how big this sign was. Carefully, Magnus crawled into the closet – hah, the irony of that, him looking forward to getting into a closet again.
"I... Jace, sweetheart, do you know how much this means?"
"Mh?" Jace looked confused, though he didn't look up from his task.
"I love you," Magnus' voice was a warm whisper.
That actually gave Jace pause. The blonde turned toward him and blinked until his gaze cleared up. He looked shocked, surprised as he regarded Magnus, sitting in his nest, and then seemed to actually hear Magnus' words too. Jace looked torn between running and kicking Magnus out.
"W... What?" Jace frowned, grasping something to hold onto.
"I was looking for the right outfit to invite you to dinner and then confess in candlelight. After I already put it off for over a week. I don't want to put this off until after your heat, especially not after you invited me into your nest, which consists of my clothes. I love yo-"
Before he could say it again, he was pulled into a deep, passionate kiss by Jace.
Author's note: My favorite aspect of ABOverse is probably "omega builds nest with clothes of crush" at this point. It's so soft. Next chapter is honestly just going to be Magnus and Jace being in love, talking about their feelings and cuddling