Alec didn't know what to think when he saw his broken and crying teacher at his doorstep. At first, he was angry because how dare Magnus show up to his flat after what had happened the night before when Magnus cold heartedly rejected him? But after a few measly seconds, Alec noticed the glistening tears in Magnus' pools of blue and wrapped his arms protectively around the older man.

Magnus was embarrassed about the whole situation. He was a grown man for fuck's sake! Why was he crying into his student's shoulder? His cheeks flushed red, but he didn't let go of Alec. In fact, he only held him tighter, digging his fingers into Alec's muscular back. Magnus hiccuped in between sobs and Alec hushed him, whispering sweetly into the older bloke's ear.

Magnus pulled away from the hug with the small amount of dignity he had left and stepped inside Alec's flat. Magnus wiped away his moist cheeks and stumbled weakly into Alec's living room before sitting down on the black, leather couch. Alec sat down next to him and gulped. It was quiet between them

Too quiet.

"I'm sorry for coming here- this is so embarrassing. I just really have no where else to go," Magnus huffed, nestling back into the cushions of the couch.

"I don't mind."

"I'm sorry," Magnus repeated, tugging on his bottom lip with his teeth.

" It's alright, stop saying you're sorry. But will you at least tell me what happened?" Alec wondered.

Magnus sighed, finally catching his breath, "It's stupid. Like, really stupid. My flat mate Woolsey and I got in a fight so I left and well, him and I hardly ever get in arguments so it kind of hurt."

"Woolsey?"

"Yeah, he's my best mate but sometimes he doesn't think things over before he speaks," Magnus said some-what humorously.

"I get it," Alec said, but he couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy deep inside him. Alec hated imagining Magnus touching or kissing someone other than himself. "So, is Woolsey, like, your boyfriend?" Alec asked.

Magnus laughed and shook his head, "Nah, he's not. Just a friend," he said. "Hey, how'd you know I was gay?" Magnus added as an afterthought.

Alec stiffened, "Erm, well, you kissed me twice so I kind of just assumed-"

"Actually, you kissed me the first time, remember?" Magnus reminded him, deciding to take a comedic approach on it. But, at the same time, Magnus felt his cheeks heat up bright pink as his brain dug up the memory of kissing the younger boy. He wanted to do it again, he really did. Here Alec was, sitting only in his boxers in front of him with those pink, kissable lips.

"Don't act like you didn't enjoy it," Alec winked, getting Magnus' attention again.

Magnus blushed even brighter, if that was at all possible. He bit his bottom lip nervously and tugged on the think pink skin.

"No response, that's exactly what I thought," Alec said cheekily.

"Shut up," Magnus scolded, nudging Alec's shoulder.

Alec pretended to zip his lips and throw away the imaginary key over his shoulder.

Magnus laughed at that, "And just for the record . . . you're a really good kisser," Magnus admitted, and he knew his face was probably as red as a cherry right then.

Alec hummed in response, not exactly knowing what to say. There was a small fraction of silence, filled only with the slight buzzing of the nearby air conditioner. Alec simply looked down at his hands and startled twiddling his thumbs nervously. The silence was awkward, yes, but at the same time it was nice. They were sitting next to each other in still quietness like nothing was wrong- like despite everything that happened between them, they were going to be alright.

Alec moistened his chapped and cracked lips quickly, "Do you wanna, like, do somethin'?"

Magnus furrowed his eyebrows, "That depends . . . what is it?"

To answer his question, Alec stood up from the couch and held out his hand for Magnus. It was not until then that Magnus realized how big and beautiful Alec's palms were, despite the budging veins and burns across the milky white skin. In fact, all of Alec was beautiful.

"Where are we going?" Magnus asked cautiously, his soft voice getting caught in his throat.

"Somewhere. Just take my hand, I don't bite . . . hard," Alec winked.

Magnus rolled his eyes and chuckled as he placed his hand in Alec's, using him as support to stand up. He followed Alec to his laundry room, keeping their hands attached. He was about to ask him what the hell they were doing in his laundry room but his question was answered when Alec grabbed a small, wooden stool and stepped up on it. He pressed his hands against the ceiling, where a large square lied.

A secret door? Magnus assumed.

As Alec pushed against the ceiling, Magnus could only watch and bite his lip to stop himself from drooling at the sight in front of him. The fact that Alec was shirtless drove him mad. Bright blue marks traveled down his stomach, twisting and connecting like intertwined neon lightning bolts. Magnus could see his highly defined hip bones poking out of the hem of his navy blue boxers.

Eventually, Alec got the door open, causing some steps to fall down from the ceiling. Magnus's eyes widened as Alec pulled himself up through the hole, then reached down a hand to help Magnus up as well. Mr. Bane carefully stepped on the stool and heaved himself through the door with the help of his student. He climbed up and felt solid concrete beneath him and he wiggled up onto a . . . roof?

And that's exactly what it was. The roof to Alec's apartment complex. It was made of concrete and overlooked the road, but at the same time, it was beautiful. The sun was setting in the most cliché wort of way, but Magnus couldn't help but smile at the sight. Small buildings and businesses lined the small streets.

Cars honked their horns and some people gave reckless drivers the middle finger, but strangely enough, it was peaceful up on the roof. None of the things going on down there mattered. They were six stories up in the air, towering over the people and cars beneath them.

"Wow," Magnus said breathlessly.

"You like it?"

"Definitely I mean . . . wow," Magnus said at loss of words. He ran his hand over the smooth metal railing that surrounded the perimeter of the roof. "Do you come up here often?"

Alec shrugged, "Sometimes. Usually when I need to cool off or had a rough day."

"It's really beautiful up here," Magnus hummed.

"It's nice because I can show myself to the public without actually being out in public, y'know? I can be myself without being judged because nobody can see me from way up here."

"Which is why it's acceptable to be only in your underwear," Magnus laughed.

"Exactly."

Magnus nodded at that, looking out at the skyline of the distant city and the setting sun in the distance. Ribbons of pink and orange danced across the sky and swirled together in a breathtaking mixture. A swift breeze whipped through the air, causing Alec's curls to fly around and whirl in the wind.

It was only then that Mr. Bane realised that one of his hands was still connected with Alec's. He gulped and untangled their fingers before crossing his arms firmly over his chest. He scolded himself for holding his hand for that long. It was wrong . . . so so wrong.

Even though he knew that what he was doing was bad, Magnus couldn't help but notice how their hands fitted so well, and how his hands were so soft, and how warm his palms felt. He noticed all these things.

"I think we need to talk," Magnus said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Alec felt his stomach drop at those words, because every time Magnus said they needed to talk, bad things happened and Alec didn't want anything to change between them. He wanted to stay like that forever, close to Magnus, up on the roof enjoying each other's presence.

But Alec couldn't say that to Magnus. He couldn't tell him how bad he wanted to kiss him and cuddle with him and do unspeakable things to him. He couldn't tell Magnus how badly he wanted him, or how Magnus managed to change him from completely straight to falling head over heels for him in a matter of months.

He couldn't tell Mr. Bane any of those things, so he nodded.

"Listen, I'm sorry for kissing you and then completely rejecting you the other day I . . . I shouldn't have done that."

Alec gulped and squeezed the railing, " It's alright. I'll survive."

Magnus sighed and placed his hand over Alec's, "No, it's not alright. I shouldn't have led you on. The truth is, I like you. Like, like you. I hope you know that by now," he chuckled.

"I thought you said we need to keep things professional-"

"We do but . . . I can't just be your teacher. I can't do that. It's, like, impossible for me to restrain myself."

Alec parted his lips and looked away from Magnus' gaze, staring out over the roof, "Why do you even like me? I'm . . . I'm not good looking. I'm a monster."

Magnus'completley froze. Did Alec really think that way about himself?

Mr. Bane gently reached under his student's chin and lifted up his face to meet his gaze, staring deeply into the younger boy's ruby eyes. He brushed his hand over the burn across his cheek, the bump in his nose, the black mark over his other cheek, and the blue veins that protruded from his jawline.

"You're not a monster, you're the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on," Magnus said honestly, taking in the pulchritude of Alec's features.

Alec's breath shook, "I think you owe me a kiss after leaving me like that yesterday," he huffed.

Magnus chuckled, "I think you're right."

And with that, Mr. Bane pressed his lips softly onto Alec's. They both didn't know what their future had in store. Would they keep their relationship a secret? And, more importantly, were they actually in a relationship per se, or was it something different? Something neither of them could define?

They didn't know the answers to any of those questions, nor did they care at the moment, because all they knew was that whatever was coming their way, they were going to do it together.