"Was that adorable too?" Alec whispered, his voice raspy, sending shivers of pleasure down Magnus' spine.

"Raziel no." The Warlock said. "That was scorching hot."

Alec licked his lips, pleased. "Good."

Magnus looked at him, his eyes golden, pupils blown wide. "You have no idea what you do to me Alexander…"

"You're exaggerating."

"Of course I'm not!" Magnus exclaimed.

"Then why am I the one always kissing you?" The Shadowhunter finally asked the question that's been torturing him even before the marriage. "You've been flirting with me from day one, yet never made an actual move! Nothing seems to break your cool, while every time I see you, I have to hold myself back so I won't kiss you senseless."

"Why would you do that?" The Warlock exclaimed, talking about Alec holding back, before adding, raising an eyebrow. "So you had realised I was flirting with you."

"Of course I had, I'm not stupid." 'And I loved every moment.' Alec thought blushing. "Even though, admittedly…" He added. "It was hard to believe you were serious."

"Alexander." Magnus said sobering up. "It takes every ounce of self control I have to keep my hands off you."

"Why would you do that?" He asked, purposefully mirroring Magnus' previous words.

"Because I know you're new to this and I'm afraid, if I let myself free I may push you too hard. May push you away… And I can't risk that…"

Alec's eyes widened momentary. "You mean that? You're serious?"

"Of course I do…" Magnus said patiently.

"Oh… It all makes sense now." Alec smiled brightly.

Magnus raised an eyebrow and the Nephilim explained. "I thought I was the only one affected… I mean, as I said before, you did say all that stuff, but it was still hard to believe, you know?"

Magnus raised his eyebrow higher. "About that… No. I don't know actually. Care to elaborate?"

"Well, look at you!" Alec said like stating the obvious, waving his arms between them. "And look at me…" He added lower."

"I am looking. All I do is look at you Alexander, in case you haven't noticed." Magnus said with fervor, making The Nephilim blush for one more time. Alec bit his lip and averted his eyes, but Magnus pushed his chin up to look at him again. "And do you know why I keep looking at you?" Alec shook his head. "Because you're beautiful." Another shake, denying his claim. "You are. But that's not the only reason. I'm not that vain. Well, maybe I am sometimes." He winked making him laugh. "That's better." Magnus grinned before going on. "As I was saying… I keep looking; I find myself powerless to take my eyes off you, because you enchant me. You amaze me, Alexander. I've never met anyone like you. So innocent and yet so fiery. A Nephilim, yet so kind towards those you were taught to consider inferior. You keep surprising me. A Shadowhunter who actually can apologise? And not because anyone forced him but because he wants to. That was what astonished me the most to be honest. Not to mention thanking me. I hadn't heard that word in ages."

Alec's face was crimson as he looked away, too embarrassed to meet Magnus' eyes. "You make me sound really extraordinary, while I'm nothing of the short… I'm plain… Both in appearance and everything else." He muttered unable to believe someone as breathtaking as Magnus could see all that in him. "And about apologising…" He added taking his hand. "I'm sorry you feel that way… I know you're not wrong to, and I can hardly imagine what you've been through, especially in the past centuries, when relations with Downworlders were even more 'strained' to put it mildly."

"Very mildly."

Alec nodded agreeing. "I've been thinking about it you know… Because there are very few things I hate more than injustice. If I became the head of the Institute, I wanted…" He bit his lip, his cheeks darkening more and shook his head falling silent.

"Alexander? Why did you stop? Tell me. What were you thinking? What did you want?"

"It's silly." He said shaking his head again. "After all, there is no hope for me. I could never become the head of the Institute. Not as long as I'm like that, and we both know that's not changing anytime soon. My parents would pick Jace over me any day."

When he said that, Magnus noticed, amazed once more, that there was no bitterness in his voice. Not even when speaking about being deprived so unfairly of what was essentially his birthright, because of something he had no power over, because of who he really was. All that was lacing his voice, was sadness. Sadness, disappointment and defeat.

"No offence, darling, but your parents were always horrible judges of character. Take Valentine for example." He shrugged, hoping he hadn't insulted the boy. He was being as mild as possible.

Alec laughed mirthlessly. "None taken." He said. "I still haven't forgiven them for keeping that from us."

"So, that said," Magnus went on, pushing his chin up to look into his eyes. "You shouldn't feel sad because your parents are too blind to see the treasure inside their own home."

"But Magnus…"

"No buts. I'm the High Warlock of Brooklyn. I'm centuries old. You can trust my judgement."

Alec chuckled. "Did you mean, 'your completely unbiased judgement'?"

"Yeah. That." Magnus poked his nose, smiling at him, with so much fondness in his eyes that the Nephilim couldn't bring himself to protest. "Now, tell me. What do you want to do when you become head of the Institute? Because you will. Jokes aside, you are the best choice. Your parents can't keep being ignorant forever."

Alec smiled bashfully at him, still blushing. "Thank you."

~o~