Magnus was scanning the crowd for the familiar messy black hair of his shadowhunter. He was throwing a party at his loft, because he hadn´t done it for a long time, but for Alec´s sake he hadn´t invited too many people. He knew he preferred to celebrate privately. Yet, he had lost his boyfriend sometime between chatting with Catarina Loss and dancing to that mundane pop song, so now he was searching for him. Unsuccessfully so far.
What he did find was Alec´s best friend standing in a corner, his arms crossed over his chest. „Hey, did you see Clary?" Jace asked him. He shook his head. „Did you see Alec?"
„No... – oh, wait...Can I ask you something?" Magnus narrowed his eyes in suspicion. „What?"
„How would you react if you saw Alec flirting with some other guy?"
„What?"
„How would you react-"
„I heard you." Magnus interrupted. „I just don´t see what you are implying."
Jace smirked. „It´s just a question. I´m making conversation, you know."
Magnus snorted. „You shouldn´t. You´re terrible at it."
Jace shrugged. „I´m just saying. You weren´t excactly delighted when that blonde chick hit on him in Pandemonium." Magnus raised an eyebrow. „Are you indicating that I, the High Warlock of Brooklyn, is capable of displaying or even feeling such a childish emotion like jealousy?"
„You don´t have to say your academic title. I know you are oh so powerful," Jace mocked him. „I am indicating that you will be jealous when you see this." With a nodd he pointed behind Magnus, to the opposite side of the room. „Turn around." Jace said.
And he did.
He saw Alec standing there with his back towards Magnus, glass in hand, and with him was a dark blonde, broad-shouldered guy talking to him. Magnus watched him closely. He was good-looking, the surferboy type, and he was a mundane. Probably he possessed the Sight, or else he wouldn´t be here with all the Shadowhunters and Downworlders at a party. And apparently he got along well with Alec. He was just telling him something that made Alec laugh. Magnus narrowed his eyes.
„What? They are just talking." he said to Jace. „It´s totally harmless. Besides I´m not the type of being jealous." Jace shot him a superior smile. „So you wouldn´t mind at all if Surfer Boy touched Alec´s ass?"
„No, I would be perfectly fine with – what?" Magnus´ cat-eyes widened as he realized what Jace had said. Their particular gold-green colour glowed as he turned to look at his shadowhunter. And indeed, the other guy´s hand was on Alec´s butt. He was whispering something into Alec´s ear, but honestly, Magnus didn´t see why he had to rub against him like that in the process.
Magnus decided right then and there that he hated Surfer Boy.
Alec, after a shocked moment, startled backwards, tearing himself away from Surfer Boy´s touch, and spilling the content of his glass all over himself.
Magnus smirked scornful at the sight of Surfer Boy suffering his rebuff.
From the distance he watched how Alec was still trying to clear up his shirt which was all wet from the spilled liquid. Surfer Boy was taking a step towards him, but Magnus wouldn´t allow that.
With a quick snap he let his magic work and Surfer Boy froze in his movement. It was quite funny to look at. How his hand was still in the air, reached out to touch Alec´s arm, his expression as if made of stone. He didn´t look very handsome in this state, Magnus thought contentedly.
Just then, Alec looked up, instantly stopped fighting with his wet t-shirt and looked puzzled at the frozen Surfer Boy.
„Now you convinced me." said Jace sarcastically, who had moved next to Magnus. Magnus glared at him. „People who touch my shadowhunter will be highly punished." he said with dignity.
„You should print that on a shirt." Jace snorted. Magnus thought he might approve of the idea.
Alec, who had spotted Magnus by now, shot him a glance that said: Magnus, what the hell did you do?
Magnus crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. He couldn´t see why Alec knew instantly that this was Magnus´ doing. It could have as well been another warlock, Catarina maybe, who decided she was a good friend for Magnus, protecting his boyfriend from charmers other than him.
„I´m pretty sure turning a helpless mundane into stone because he flirted with Alec is against the law." Jace remarked not very helpful.
„Good thing my boyfriend is the son of the Consul." Magnus retorted as Alec approached them.
„Magnus, turn him back!" Alec hissed under his breath as soon as he reached them. Magnus´ satisfied expression didn´t change. „One more minute, darling. He needs to learn a lesson." Alec looked at his parabatai for support, but Jace shook his head. Keep me out of this, he communicated with his eyes. Alec sighed. „Magnus, please turn him back!"
The warlock rolled his eyes like a stubborn child whose mother scolded him for being mean to other kids. „If you insist." He said and another snap released Surfer Boy from his spell. The guy continued his movement but to his great confusion the arm grabbed nothing but thin air since Alec wasn´t standing in front of him anymore.
Jace, Magnus and Alec made a move towards him.
„Whoa, how did you do that? You were just standing next to me, and in a second you were over there." Surfer Boy gesticulated frantically with both puzzlement and admiration. „Magic." Magnus explained dryly. „It´s a simple trick. I wanted to stop you from macking on Alec. I couldn´t stand it anymore." Jace shot him a knowing glance. Magnus ignored him.
„Why? Do you find two guys flirting disgusting? And here I thought a magician who dresses like a male Lady Gaga should be a bit more open-minded." Surfer Boy said. He looked at Magnus provocatively.
„Who´s Lady Gaga?" Alec asked, honestly confused.
„It´s warlock, not magician." Magnus clarified, ignoring Alec´s question completly. „And my style of clothing has earned me many flatterers and enviers."
„Wait – I didn´t flirt with you!" said Alec, obviously realizing just now that Surfer Boy assumed there would be mutual interest between the two. Surfer Boy eyed him with utter disbelief. „Oh, come on! You´d be putty in my hands by now, if this Son Goku wannabe hadn´t pissed on my parade. It was just a matter of time until I hooked you up."
If Magnus weren´t busy evaluating whether he should magically tar and feather Surfer Boy or if it was a waste of his powers, he would have laughed at the shocked expression Alec made. Jace, however, was amused as hell. For some reason he was still standing with them, watching them without being any help. „You need some popcorn?" Magnus asked him, not-so-subtly telling him to leave. Jace shook his head, seemingly feeling very modest and self-satisfied, but he didn´t move a bit.
„For your information.", Magnus began, directing his words to Surfer Boy again. He tried very hard to sound patient. „This incredible stupid hottie of a shadowhunter is TAKEN. Not. Available. Especially for you. And if you don´t go immediately, I´ll find a way to throw you out of this house, but I can´t promise you´ll be in the same state then as you are now."
Surfer Boy opened his mouth for a witty reply, but Jace stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. „Dude, if I were you I would run. A weedy mundane like you can´t compete with a warlock like him, trust me." he recommended. Fortunately for him, Surfer Boy really left after that and Magnus could breathe out again.
„Don´t look so smug. You were acting like a diva." Alec said. Magnus just shrugged. „There are worse things.", he said grinning. „You flirting with Surfer Boy, for example. What is it with you and blondes?"
Alec narrowed his eyes. „I didn´t flirt with him!"
Of course Magnus knew that. Nevertheless it bothered him slightly that his boyfriend was being hit on almost everytime they were in public. Especially by blonde people. Maybe he should stop buying Alec new clothes, he thought. The old sweaters were terrible, but at least Alec didn´t attract so many people when he wore them. Or maybe he should put a glamour on the shadowhunter so that his doubtlessly handsome appearance was completly hidden for strangers, Magnus mused. It would spare him a lot of trouble indeed.
„Magnus?" Alec interrupted his train of thoughts. „Could you please get me a new shirt? It´s a bit wet, you know."
Magnus smirked. „I don´t know. I kind of enjoy the view of you in a wet t-shirt."
Alec didn´t reply to this. He simply rolled his eyes at his boyfriend.
„Come on, darling. You know you owe me now, after your treacherous flirt with Surfer Boy."
Alec looked exasparated. „I didn´t flirt with him – oh, by the Angel! Magnus, I´m sure we´ll find another way for me to make up for this." He leaned forward and whispered something into the warlock´s ear, so that Jace couldn´t hear what he was saying.
Magnus lifted one brow. „Sounds much better to me." And with a wave of his hand the wet shirt switched places with a fresh button-down.
Alec looked pleased.
Thankfully, he couldn´t see the writing printed on the back of his shirt that made Jace laugh out loud.