A collision of hearts
By: Writheworth
Chapter 2: Call me
A/N: I've had some technical troubles with this chapter. Had to keep on re-posting it, but finally it's readable (I hope)
Would love to hear some opinions or requests (:
Happy reading ~
Update: I just realized that only half of the first chapter was posted (?). I have no idea how that happened... Now the whole thing is uploaded, hopefully it's a bit more logical now that it doesn't end in the middle of a scentance... (x
Alec's finger hovered over the buzzer next to the name Magnus Bane.
Just press it.
He took a deep breath…. But nothing happened. His finger remained where it was, only touching the air in front of the button, and so it had been for the last five minutes. This was just stupid. They had decided upon dinner today, he had every reason to be there, so what was stopping him from pressing the buzzer?
Do it, or go home.
Alec took another deep breath for courage… Still, nothing happened.
By the angel… Coward.
He shook his head and was just about to give up and lower his hand when a loud noise made him jump. He twisted around, reaching for his seraph blade but stopped short when he saw the source of the sound. A large dog stood by the sidewalk barking at a dove which apparently was out of line. The owner of the dog tiredly told it to stop and dragged it out of sight. Alec allowed himself to relax but not for long…
"CLOSED FOR BUISNESS, LEAVE!"
Alec almost jumped out of his skin. What was wrong with him? In a fight fear never immobilized him, on the opposite, it made him faster, but now it just made him loose control of his body. He hadn't even noticed he had pressed the buzzer by accident when the dog had been on the brink of giving him a heart attack just seconds before.
Clutching his heart he stepped closer to the buzzer.
"Sorry, I… It's me."
"Oh! Darling," Magus' voice exclaimed through the speaker. "Come right up."
Alec smiled a little and entered. He started walking up the stairs, hearing his boots make a thumping sound by every step. He tried to swallow his nervousness but it just seemed to rise by every step he took.
He reached the door and noticed it was ajar. Alec hesitated for a moment before knocking slightly. When no one answered he invited himself and opened the door completely. He was welcomed by what seemed to be an empty flat. Once again he knocked lightly on the now open door.
"Magnus?"
No answer. He had buzzed Alec in, so he was obviously aware that he had arrived. Alec thoroughly wiped his boots on the doormat before he entered the flat. Most people would make a noise, walking with such heavy boots, but Alec's presence could not be noticed by sound. Years of training had evolved his prowess to its fullest potential. If he didn't want to be heard, he wasn't heard. That was a fact. Though he overused that skill, simply out of habit and often ended up scaring Clary out of her shoes when he inaudible entered the room.
Alec tried to listen after Magnus, but no sound could be heard, revealing his location. He entered the living room where a large sofa took up most of the space. The black leather had been ripped by what seemed to be claws. In front of the sofa there was a coffee table made out of glass. It would have been a very beautiful asset to the room, if not for the fact that it was covered in circled stains of coffee. Alec went deeper into the room and raised his eyebrows when he realized that what he had thought to be a black wall was actually a very large flat screen TV.
"Like it?"
He twisted around and found himself standing face to face with a sparkling warlock. Alec's jaw dropped. Magnus was standing, tall and beautiful, in a doorway. He was dressed in a black, knitted shirt with large holes in it, exposing a neon-yellow tank top underneath. His legs were clad in tight leather pants which hung low on his slim hips. He was barefoot, showing off his pink painted nails. His black hair was styled in neat spikes, topped off with purple glitter, matching his makeup which was dark and mysterious, and, let's face it – very hot.
"Yeah." Alec breathed, not referring to the TV.
Magnus chuckled and walked out into the room in which Alec was standing.
"I see you picked out your most special outfit."
Alec looked down at himself. He was wearing his ordinary clothes. He never needed anything else since he never attended special events, so that was all his closet consisted of. He hadn't even though of putting on something different. Everything on him was black, except maybe his old worn t-shirt which was starting to become more gray than black.
Black boots, trousers, jacket, and hair. The only thing on him that was not black was his pale skin and…
"Your eyes," Magnus said tilting his head. "They really stand out in all that lack of colour." Alec's blue eyes met Magnus' yellow ones.
"Yours always seem to stand out."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Magnus said confidently and smiled crookedly.
"It was meant as one." Alec replied returning the taller man's smile.
Magnus chuckled and fluttered his long, dark eyelashes.
"Hungry?"
"Starving." It was true. Alec hadn't been able to eat anything all day due to nervousness. Now, as he was standing there in front of the warlock he felt calm and couldn't understand what he had been so nervous about.
Magnus took Alec's hand and dragged him along to the couch in which he seated him before disappearing into the kitchen. A moment later he returned carrying two pizza boxes, a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
"I ordered them a few hours ago, since I wasn't sure what time you'd show up"
He had stacked it all in one hand and was holding it up like a waiter. Alec raised his eyebrows at Magnus' choice of food for a date, a detail which Magnus noticed.
"Oh, don't worry, I've reheated them. They're as good as new, better even." He said misunderstanding Alec's questioning gaze. He lifted his free hand up to demonstrate his secret to reheating pizza, and a blue flame rose from his palm.
"I didn't know what you like, so I got a Hawaiian pizza and the other one's with pepperoni."
He put everything down on the table (with surprising ease) and sat down beside Alec.
"Both sound fine." Alec said. He had gotten the idea that dates meant fancy, expensive food. Pizza wasn't what he had expected, but it was more than fine, actually better than the alternative. He was too hungry to be satisfied by fancy food portions the size of his thumb.
Magnus showed off his white teeth in a smile and poured up whine, nodding for Alec to start eating, an order Alec gladly obeyed opening the top box taking out a slice of pepperoni pizza.
"She was very forward to say the least…"
On the table, the pizza cartons stood empty, as did Magnus' glass and the wine bottle, though Alec hadn't yet finished his first glass. He lay back in the couch, looking at Magnus as he told his stories. He had never felt so at peace. He wasn't sure if it was all Magnus or if the wine had something to do with it. He wasn't very familiar with alcohol, having only ever tasted very small amounts in the past. This was the first time he had had his own glass of an alcoholic drink. But maybe you had to drink more to be affected by it?
"And that's like my number 1 rule: Don't touch the hair! Or the face!"
Alec's cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling, but he couldn't stop: there was a gorgeous warlock sitting just an arm length away. They both had their legs up on the couch, and Magnus' knee was lying on top of Alec's. The touch seemed to fling sparks, but if you looked, none could be seen.
"I almost cursed her. No one in the world of fashion would have blamed me if I did."
Alec hadn't spoken for half an hour. Magnus did all the talking, which the shadowhunter didn't mind at all. Magnus' skin was sparkling in the semi-darkness; he was almost a greater light source than the low-burning candles. Alec wasn't sure whether it was make up, magic or just his natural skin. It all seemed equally plausible.
"She ended up pissing off a werewolf who almost broke my door trying to get to her."
The warlock started chuckling, and didn't really seem to be able to stop, the wine affecting his normal casualness, though not removing his charm, according to Alec.
"And that was the last I saw… Of the both of them…" He chuckled, struggling to get the words out. "And I wouldn't be… Surprised if she's… She's a werewolf now!"
He laughed loudly, and kept on laughing, and after barely avoiding falling off the couch he ended up laying on his back, legs strewn over Alec's lap, his head resting on the armrest. The warlock lay there chuckling lazily with his arm thrown over his eyes, apparently having forgotten about his make up (unless it was magically protected).
After a moment his laughter eventually died out and he took a deep breath, recovering from the experience.
"So, first date: Check." Magnus said, smiling broadly. "How has it been so far?"
Alec rested his hands upon the warlock's slim legs, feeling the smooth leather against his rough palms.
"Amazing." Alec answered stroking his thumb over Magnus' knee.
"What other firsts do you have left?"
Alec frowned.
"Well…" He began, not sure where to start. There were a lot of firsts left, there always were, weren't there? "What firsts are you referring to?"
"Hmm… Killed a demon?"
"Well of course I've done that." Alec answered snickering.
"Seen Pulp fiction?"
"'S that a movie? Then no, not yet, I guess."
Magnus chuckled at his lack of education concerning pop culture.
"Been to a concert?"
"No, I can listen to music when I'm at home." Alec answered, not sure why anyone would prefer standing in a tightly packed crowd, to lying in your bed while listening to music.
Magnus snorted smiling crookedly.
"Been on a date?"
Alec tilted his head.
"You know I have, now at least, we're on one right now."
"I know. I just wanted to hear you say it." Magnus purred.
"Oh." Alec blushed.
Magnus pouted his lips, thinking about other possible future firsts.
"Have you bought your date a rose?"
"… I should have brought you a rose, shouldn't I?"
Magnus peaked out from under his arm, meeting Alec's gaze.
"Don't worry; you can do it next time. I like pink ones."
Magnus winked before disappearing behind his arm again.
Next time. Alec's smile broadened.
"Had sex with a woman?" Magnus continued.
"U-uhm," Alec stuttered, caught by surprise having been thinking about future dates. "No."
"I know you're gay, so I didn't expect anything else." Magnus chuckled. "Have you had sex with a man, then?"
Alec hesitated. He hadn't, even though he was 19. He knew that both Isabelle and Jace had lost their virginities years ago. Maybe it was common to wait longer if you were gay? He wasn't sure. Maybe he was just making excuses.
"No." He answered finally.
Magnus didn't seem bothered by the fact, he just continued;
"But you must have kissed someone."
Alec nervously fingered the seam on Magnus' trousers.
"Not yet."
Once again Magnus lifted away his arm, peaking at Alec.
"Never?"
"Never." Alec averted his eyes.
"Not anyone?"
"Nope, no one."
Magnus removed his arm completely, pushing himself up into a sitting position. Alec carefully pointed his gaze at the warlock, expecting a judging face. But no such look greeted him. The look on Magnus' face was curious, nothing else.
"Would you like to?"
Alec sucked in a breath. Magnus' yellow, catlike eyes were steadily watching the shahdowhunter.
Alec swallowed once and nodded slowly.
Sitting frozen he watched the warlock who leaned in close, with a small, reassuring smile. Their lips touched. It was just a light touch, but it still made Alec's heart skip a beat. He could feel the heat radiating from his cheeks. With one hand against the small of Magnus' back, and the other rising to cup the warlock's cheek Alec parted his lips, inviting him in. Magnus took he hint; his bottom lip slipped in in between Alec's parted ones.
It was like a symphony. Everything perfectly timed. Magnus took the lead, and Alec followed, letting the other man's tongue enter his mouth and entangle with his. The kiss was slow, pleasant, and exploring.
Alec had never believed anyone when they had said that kissing could be so amazing. He had understood that some pleasure had to be in it, since everyone kept doing it, but he had never understood what could be so special about it.
He did now.
His eyes were closed, which sharpened his other senses. He could smell the sweet scent of the warlock, combined with lit candles and wine. He could hear them both kissing, and breathing, and Magnus' leather pants creaking slightly. He could feel the long, slim legs of the warlock across his own, and Magnus' fingers loosely entangled with his hair, but most of all he could feel their lips and tongues meeting, greeting and exploring each other.
Alec felt like he could go on forever, leaving his responsibilities to someone else and retire with Magnus, kissing him, day and night, never stopping.
But all good things have to end.
Magnus slowly pulled away and opened his eyes. They sat there, watching each other, breathing.
Alec was the one who eventually broke the silence.
"Thank you."
Magnus chuckled deeply.
"You're welcome."
Alec frowned and tilted his head, looking over Magnus' shoulder.
"What's that?"
Magnus raised his eyebrows, following Alec gaze.
"Oh! He chuckled. "It's called a cat. Is that another first for you?"
Alec smiled and shook his head.
"No, of course not. I meant, who's that?"
"His name's Chairman Meow."
Alec's brows went up towards his hair at the odd name. He then looked at the cat.
"Hi Chairman."
"Meow." Magnus finished.
"Meow." Alec mimicked, snickering.
He then remembered the clawed up sofa they were currently sitting on.
"Well that explains it." He said, nodding towards a deep scratch next to his own shoulder.
"Yeah, this is more his place than it is mine."
Alec laughed at this and leaned back in the couch again. Magnus did the same, laying his head on the armrest.
"Hey, what time is it?" Alec asked, realizing that he probably had been there quite a while.
"Uhmm…"
Magnus started searching between and under the couch pillows with his hand until he stopped and pulled out a small object. He flipped open his phone.
"Ah, shit." He sat up pushing buttons at incredible speed.
"What is it?" Alec asked quietly, not sure if it was okay to disturb him while texting so fiercely.
Magnus seemed to hit send and dragged his hand over his eyes (without messing up his makeup, had to be magic) and sighed.
"Old friend needs my help. I'm sorry Alec, but I have to take this."
Alec tried not to show his disappointment. Of course he recognized these kinds of situations, being a shadowhunter. Though more often being the one needing to leave, rather than being the one left.
"No, of course. Go."
Magnus cupped the shadowhunter's cheek with a look that said that all he wanted to do was to stay. He rose from the couch and went towards his bedroom. Alec sighed deeply before rising as well, and walked to the door, waiting for Magnus.
They left together shortly and ended up at the very place where Alec had stood with his finger hovering over the buzzer. It all seemed so far away now, like it was weeks, even months ago.
It had grown colder since then and their breath's formed clouds in front of them.
Magnus leaned down and kissed Alec a second time that night. Alec grabbed the warlock's coat, pulling him closer. Once again Magnus was the one who had to end the kiss. He brushed a black strand of hair out of the shadowhunter's face and smiled.
"Call me."
He then turned and walked down the street in the soft light from the street lamps. Alec remained until he could no longer see his date's silhouette.
Biting his lip, trying not to laugh out of pure joy he twisted around and went the other way.